Seven and a half months for wife beater

A man is beginning a seven-and-a-half-month prison sentence after he admitted assaulting his wife.

Ricardo Kortram, 49, of North Road in Lerwick, was previously remanded after he pleaded guilty to several charges.

Kortram had been due to appear in the dock last month after being charged with causing fear or alarm to the woman.

He repeatedly phoned and sent text messages, threatening to kill himself if she did not reconcile with him, and threatening to kill her into the bargain.

But he breached his bail by repeatedly phoning her and her mother. He then punched his wife and compressed her throat after straddling her.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court today defence agent Tommy Allan said Kortram had lived “an eventful life”. His drinking had been escalating.

“He has spent a month in custody,” Mr Allan said. “He appreciates his alcohol is something he’s not able to control.”

He said Kortram had expressed “shame and remorse” for his actions. But he added that Kortram’s wife had shown a willingness to support him.

But sheriff Philip Mann was less than convinced. He told Kortram: “It may well be your wife is supportive and is understanding of your difficulties, but that’s not really the most important consideration I have to take into account.”

The sheriff said Kortram’s behaviour had amounted to a “serious episode” of domestic assault.

“It could easily have ended in tragedy,” he said. “Alcohol is part of the explanation for your behaviour, but it was not an excuse.”