Conman who faked cancer and dead son admits throttling woman
Scott Fraser admitted a charge of intentional strangulation of his partner at the time on September 25 last year.
Fraser, of Aberdeen, flew into a rage at the couple's home after an argument over a birthday card at a restaurant.
• Non-fatal strangulation offence would be a deterrent, mother says
He lifted his victim off the floor by the lapel of her dressing gown before threatening to kill her family, Crewe magistrates' court was told. Fraser pleaded guilty to the offence as the trial hearing was due to start on Monday.
The court heard how Fraser met his then partner online and had been in a relationship with her for two and a half years.
The relationship had been happy but in the six months leading up to the attack there had been regular arguments and verbal abuse from Fraser.
Fraser, now of Nantwich, Cheshire, was out with the woman for dinner, having travelled to the venue in a separate car. The victim showed him a birthday card written to one of her friends, who was turning 70.
It was signed from the victim and her two daughters, which prompted Fraser to become angry. The court was told that the 57-year-old said: 'You've done it again. F*** off.'
The prosecutor told the court: 'She believes that the defendant was referring to her annoying him. She then decided to leave, got in her car and drove off. She went home, and the defendant arrived immediately after her.'
Changing into her dressing gown and making tea, the victim tried to be civil with Fraser and calm him down. Fraser would not be placated and became angry about the fact the woman had said she would not accompany him to Aberdeen, where he was due in court for other offences.
He told her: 'I'm going to drag you there kicking and screaming.'
Fraser, who is 6ft 5in, then grabbed her on the collar of her dressing gown and lifted her off the floor into the air. He added: 'You're coming to Aberdeen with me, or I'll kill your f***ing family.
'I won't do it. I'll get someone else to do it. I've got people on speed dial.'
The victim grabbed her phone and went to the bathroom to call her adult daughters but Fraser grabbed it from her and told her she was 'not going anywhere'. He pinned her against a wall by her throat and repeated: 'You're not going anywhere'.
Eventually, the woman apologised for upsetting him and he calmed down.
Fraser had earlier pleaded guilty to other offences from the same set of charges. He admitted driving without insurance and driving without a licence after being caught behind the wheel of the woman's car on his way to a meeting with his probation officer.
The driving offences were heard at Warrington magistrates' court in February and Fraser was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also fined £700 and given six penalty points on his licence.
• Serial abuser beat his partner to death while on curfew
Fraser was already serving a community sentence after being convicted in September last year at Aberdeen sheriff court of abducting his then partner in Aberdeen and defrauding her of £50,000.
The court heard Fraser had a tattoo of a baby, which he claimed to be his dead son despite actually having one daughter. He also falsely claimed to have prostate cancer.
He was arrested and charged with the driving offences seven days later, having told the sheriff in the Scottish court he had 'turned over a new leaf'.
Crewe magistrates referred the case to Chester crown court for sentencing in July.
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