Abuser jailed for causing ex physical and psychological trauma

Ross Olding throttled his victim on multiple occasions, forcibly ripped earrings from her ear, gouged her eye with his finger and threatened to kill her.

Olding, 46, of Wellington Street, left his former partner of six years with bruising and a black eye after banging her head off a table during another assault and told her that she was 'toxic'.

The thug, who had no previous convictions, was locked up after appearing for sentencing at Greenock Sheriff Court.

Ross Olding (Image: Facebook)

A prosecutor told the hearing that the pair had been married for three years but separated at the end of 2019, however, they continued to live together due to the outbreak of Covid.

The procurator fiscal depute described several incidents from 2019 until 2021 in which Olding attacked and abused his ex at a property in Port Glasgow and elsewhere.

READ MORE: 'Danger to women': Victims of Gourock domestic abuser condemn 'laughable' sentence

He grabbed the complainer around her neck with both hands and began to squeeze following an argument over taking out the bin in November 2019, with the woman having to violently struggle to release his grip.

Olding choked the victim again on other occasions, including in January 2020, following an argument about the washing machine, leaving her unable to breathe after grabbing her neck with both hands and squeezing tightly.

Ross Olding (Image: NQ)

In April 2020 they had a dispute about him 'messaging other women using a phone she was paying for' and Olding had to be physically removed from the victim after throttling her and leaving her with a sore throat.

The court heard that Olding took to making vlogging videos in which he referred to the woman using a disgusting derogatory term, and also called her 'lazy', 'fat' and 'toxic'.

The fiscal depute said: "She said she couldn't take it any more and that she was going to kill herself. He told her to go and kill herself.

READ MORE: Abuser jailed for 'terrifying' three-year campaign of harassment against mistress

"He grabbed her glasses and crushed them with his hands. He then gouged her eye with his finger before grabbing her hair and banging her head off of a table leg."

Olding shouted that he was going to kill the woman and claimed that she had ruined his life, and she was left with bruising and a black eye as a result of the attack.

The abuser repeatedly contacted the complainer via Facebook and phoned and left abusive voicemail messages, including derogatory comments calling her 'ignorant', a 'bam' and a 'witch'.

The court heard that the complainer reported Olding to the police in September 2021 and he was arrested in July 2022.

Solicitor Gemma Elder told the court that her client, who was recently diagnosed with autism, was assessed by a psychiatrist who confirmed he had no statutory defence for his crimes.

READ MORE: Life-endangering thug finally locked up as sheriff commends courage of victims

Ms Elder said: "He perhaps lacks an ability to properly reflect on consequential thinking.

"He is unable to properly communicate victim empathy and he struggles to see the middle ground.

"He is appalled by his behaviour. He does describe the relationship as toxic and fully concedes his part in that toxic culture of the relationship.

"He does not wish to victim blame."

The lawyer said Covid 'presented a particular difficulty' to the relationship and 'exacerbated the situation' but she accepted that the custody threshold had been met.

Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told Olding: "You subjected the complainer to repeat abuse over 17 months and more than seven incidents.

"Your abuse caused the complainer both physical and psychological trauma.

"I am satisfied that a custodial sentence is the only appropriate way of dealing with this offence."

Olding was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and a three-year non-harassment order, banning him from contacting his ex or posting about her on social media, was also imposed.