Violent criminal who tried to strangle woman in life-threatening attack at Aberdeen flat jailed

A violent criminal has been jailed for six years and four months after throttling a woman until she blacked out in a life-endangering attack.

Albert Massie assaulted the victim, who was punched and kicked at a flat in Aberdeen, before he gripped her neck, leaving her unable to breathe.

The court heard that the 35-year-old has amassed a criminal record containing 84 previous convictions, 22 of which involved assaults, and has been jailed on 32 previous occasions.

Lord Armstrong said Massie’s actions in carrying out the attack on the woman had a “devastating” and continuing effect on the victim.

He told Massie at the High Court in Edinburgh: “The injuries you inflicted on her were consistent with attempted strangulation, which posed a danger to her life.”

Massie earlier admitted assaulting the woman to the danger of her life on November 8 last year at a property in Princes Street in Aberdeen.

During the attack, he grabbed her by the hair and body, punched and kicked her, straddled her, seized her by the neck and compressed her neck, restricting her breathing and causing her to lose consciousness.

Massie committed the attack after earlier being granted bail at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Lord Armstrong told him he had admitted a “grave assault” on his victim.

Defence counsel John Brannigan said Massie had a difficult childhood and suffered following a bereavement. He told the court: “He is a gentleman with certain difficulties.”

Lord Armstrong told Massie, who followed the sentencing proceedings via a video link to jail, that he would be subject to a non harassment order banning him from approaching or contacting the victim.