Man who attacked wife with glass decanter after drinking heavily failing jail term

A man who attacked his wife of more than 30 years with a glass decanter has been warned he could face a jail sentence.

George Ballingall, 68, left his spouse fearing that she was going to be killed during the assault at their home in Leven, in Fife.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Ballingall bought two bottles of wine and drank the first one with his wife while their evening meal was being prepared.

Advocate depute David Dickson KC said: “During the evening, the complainer received some news that a close friend had been taken into hospital, which resulted in the accused and complainer continuing to consume more alcohol than they usually would.”

The prosecutor said: “The complainer and the accused continued to consume alcohol throughout the evening and on/off shouting was heard by neighbours.”

The woman went into the kitchen, and her husband followed her and grabbed her by the throat, and she felt she was “gasping for air”. He continued to hold her and moved her across the room, and she stopped fighting back as he was “bigger and stronger”.

Mr Dickson said: “She slid down to the floor where the accused kicked and punched her to the body, causing her to curl up in a ball. The accused began to strike the complainer on the head with a glass decanter until it smashed, leaving her bleeding heavily.”

He said Ballingall then got a knife and got on top of his wife, who was still on the floor.

The prosecutor said: “The accused put the knife to the complainer’s throat at which point she believed the accused was going to kill her.”

He said that during the attack, Gallingall blamed his wife for “everything that had happened over the years”.

Mr Dickson said: “As suddenly as the assault had begun, the assault ended and the complainer managed to free herself and escape to the bathroom, locking herself within.”

She made contact with a relative and shouted down the phone: “He’s trying to murder me, I’m covered in blood. Help me.”

The relative and her husband went to the house and Gallingall answered the door, covered in blood. He said: “I’ve done nothing wrong, it’s her.”

Police were contacted and a description of the blood-soaked kitchen with broken glass and knife on the floor was provided.

The woman returned to the kitchen, which resulted in her husband becoming aggressive again, and he was described as looking “like he was possessed”.

Police attended, and Ballingall was arrested. He was later interviewed and claimed that he had no memory of the incident.

Mr Dickson said that the victim was found to have sustained wounds to her scalp, chest and hand.

He told the court: “Given the mechanism of injury and the significant blood loss there was a potential danger to life.”

Retired Ballingall admitted assaulting his wife on December 10 last year to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of life at an address in Viewforth, Leven.

Judge John Morris KC continued sentencing for the preparation of a background report on the first offender. He agreed to continue his bail but warned a jail sentence was “almost inevitable”.