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Man jailed 38 years after he pushed a woman into the sea

Getty Images A small yacht sails through the entrance to Nairn Harbour. A white structure with a light to guide boats in is at the end of long wall at the entrance.Getty Images
A court heard that William McDonald put a woman's life in danger by pushing her into the sea at Nairn Harbour

A man who pushed a woman into the sea from a pier in Nairn 38 years ago has been jailed for two years.

William McDonald, 76, from Ardersier, assaulted the woman on other occasions over an almost 50-year period between 1975 and 2022.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard he put her life in danger by pushing her into the sea at Nairn Harbour in the summer of 1987.

A jury found McDonald guilty on serious assault and threatening behaviour charges following a trial at the High Court in Inverness earlier this year.

He was acquitted of charges alleging he carried out sexual assaults.

Judge Michael O'Grady KC told McDonald he needed to go to prison for his "disturbing" crimes.

He said: "These episodes demonstrate a disturbing propensity towards violence and cruelty towards your victim.

"The situation can only be resolved by way of a custodial sentence - that will be one of two years."

Before sentence was passed, defence advocate Jonathan Deans told the court that his client had previously run a gardening business.