Man jailed after shoving lover into sea during Oban camping trip

Aaron Jessop, 37, forcefully pushed the woman into the water as she stood on pier steps looking for her bag that he had also chucked in.

 

The terrified victim luckily managed to get herself out before being helped by others following the life-threatening attack in Oban, Argyll and Bute last August 1.

 

The pair had travelled to the town by train with the woman’s dog for a camping holiday.

 

Prosecutor Neil McCulloch today told the High Court in Glasgow how Jessop became riled when his partner started chatting with another woman during the journey.

 

He began yelling at her and snatched her phone.

 

When the train arrived in Oban, Jessop continued to behave "aggressively" in front of other people.

 

He called her an expletive as they walked in the town’s Railway Pier area, which had steps leading down to the sea.

 

Mr McCulloch: "Jessop then threw a rucksack into the water. He also smashed the woman’s phone against a wall causing it to break.

 

"He approached her and struck her on the face by slapping the woman."

 

The victim went down some of the steps to try and find her bag.

 

Mr McCulloch explained Jessop then approached the woman, "pushing her to the back with both hands causing her to fall into the water below".

 

The court heard the shocking attack was captured on CCTV and also witnessed by shocked onlookers.

 

Despite this, Jessop initially denied to others being responsible and questioned how she had ended up in the sea.

 

The "visibly distressed and soaking wet" victim got herself back onto dry land.

 

Jessop was arrested by police called to the scene. He shouted that he "loved" the woman.

 

The court heard the height of the woman’s fall was around five feet to the water.

 

Jessop - who already had a history of violence - today pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim to the danger of her life as well as a charge of threatening behaviour.

 

Lord Young sentenced him to three years and three months in jail.

 

He told Jessop: "To push the woman into the sea was an incredibly dangerous thing to do.

 

"Fortunately, she escaped without any physical injury, but her victim impact statement indicates that it was a frightening experience. 

 

"She continues to suffer some panic attacks."

 

Jessop has also been banned from going near the woman for the next 15 years.