A husband who burned his wife with hot tea and choked her until she was unconscious has been jailed.

Garry O'Donnell was handed a three-year sentence on Friday for subjecting his partner Rhona to a horrifying assault in September 2021. 

On Friday, the High Court in Edinburgh heard how he abused Rhona after returning to his home in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, from work early claiming he had "good news".

The 37-year-old lorry driver instead went on to show her messages he had between Rhona and her work colleague, who she had reportedly been "romantically involved" with.

During the vicious attack, his wife yelled: "I am going to die."

She eventually managed to flee and drove herself injured to hospital.

O'Donnell then called police, admitting he had "lost the plot" after finding his wife had been “cheating".

Glasgow Times:

The court heard how Rhona wanted O’Donnell not to be sent to prison as she feared it would have a devastating impact on their children. 

O’Donnell’s solicitor advocate Rhonda Anderson said the circumstances surrounding the aftermath of the attack meant her client could undertake community service.

But Lord Beckett said the only sentence he could impose on O’Donnell for the assault was custody. 

Passing sentence, he said: “The complainer speaks well of you. She does not wish to see you in custody. She points to the impact it would have on the children. 

“However, this is a very serious example of domestic abuse. Your children were asleep and given this, it is of some concern to the court that their presence did not dissuade you from carrying out the assault. 

“The court also notes your mean and sneaky action in throwing a scalding hot drink over the complainer.

“There’s no suitable alternative to a prison sentence. You will go to prison for three years from today.”

The first offender, now of Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow last month to assaulting his wife to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of her life.

Sentence was deferred for the court to obtain reports on O’Donnell’s background. 

During earlier proceedings, the court heard how the attack occurred at the couple's then home in East Kilbride on September 12, 2021.

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O'Donnell had been suspicious of his wife of 10 years in the weeks before the crime.

Prosecutor Mark Mohammed told the High Court in Glasgow: "In the summer of 2021, she became romantically involved with a work colleague."

O'Donnell later moved out to stay with his parents, but returned hoping to save his relationship.

Mr Mohammed stated: "His wife told him that she wanted to end the marriage. He refused to accept this."

In the early hours of September 12, O'Donnell unexpectedly came back from work.

He asked to speak to his wife in the kitchen - and went on to show her his mobile phone.

Mr Mohammed stated: "She saw messages between herself and her male colleague. 

"He made comments about them and Rhona O'Donnell then turned to walk away."

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Raging O'Donnell then hurled a mug of hot, black tea over his wife causing her "extreme pain".

He managed to pin her to the ground and slapped both hands around her neck to strangle her.

Mr Mohammed stated: "She could not breathe and her vision began to fade."

O'Donnell went to grab her by the hair and smack her head repeatedly off a kitchen unit.

He choked her again leading to her to lose consciousness.

When she came to, Rhona desperately tried to find her phone to get help stating: "I am going to die."

She eventually got her mobile and jumped in her car to the local hospital.

O'Donnell dialled 999 and confessed: "She split up with me and then I found out she's been cheating, texting somebody.

"I came home from work and I attacked her."

The court heard Rhona needed to go to a specialist burns unit for injuries to her back and neck.

She also had bruising to her head, nose, cheek and collar bone.

Rhona was able to leave hospital on September 20 and luckily her burns had healed.

Describing her client’s feelings during the assault, Ms Anderson said: “He felt totally humiliated and hurt by her. He felt dismissed by her and he lost control. 

“He is ashamed to have done so. He takes full responsibility for his actions and he expresses full remorse.”