A young West Lothian woman left scarred for life by her ex-boyfriend has hit out after he escaped jail.
Jordana Rutherford said she was in floods of tears when she found out brute William Weir dodged prison on Monday, but had been ordered to pay her £1000 compensation instead.
Jordana (20) told The Daily Record: “I’m in tears.
“I feel awful. I can’t believe he didn’t get time inside.
“I wasn’t expecting him to get years, but I did think he would have at least got some prison time for what he put me through.
“He’s ruined my life and has basically been let away with it.
“It’s disgusting.”
Jordana was just 17 when William Weir knocked her unconscious during a violent assault at the Citizen M on Renfield Street, following an argument in November 2019.
Jordana, from West Calder, said the terrifying ordeal caused her to attempt to take her own life to heal her pain, as well as being the reason she now experiences severe panic attacks.
Weir lashed out amid an argument over him being with another girl at a concert they attended together at the o2 Academy in the city’s South Side.
Speaking to the Record last month, Jordana said: “What I went through that night was absolutely terrifying.
“The situation itself was horrible, but mentally and physically I’m still damaged. I still have nightmares about what happened in that room.
“I’ve been left with a massive scar on my head that is a daily reminder of what he did to me.
Weir was charged with pushing Jordana on the body, pulling her by the hair and striking her on the head.
Jordana has now said she feels let down by the Scottish Justice System, branding it ‘ a joke’.
She added: “People get caught with thousands of pounds worth of drugs and get years in prison, yet he gets to ruin my life and pretty much gets away with it.
“I know someone who recently got six months for cannabis, yet clearly the courts aren’t bothered about jailing those bettering young girls.
“The justice system is a complete joke. To me the whole system is corrupt.
“I’m just absolutely devastated and feel so let down.”
Weir, from Larkhall, was found guilty after a two-day trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court to Jordana’s injury and permanent disfigurement.
He was told to do 200 hours of unpaid work as well as fork out the compensation.
Speaking about the £1000 compensation, Jordana said: “Money doesn’t change anything, unfortunately.
“It makes up nothing for me. No amount will take away the pain and suffering he has caused.”
Furious Jordana said she now understands why abuse victims fail to come forward.
She added: “No wonder these men and women are scared to speak out. What’s the point if this is how their abusers are punished?
“I’ve already had girls message me to say that’s why they don’t come forward.
“In their words ‘it’s pointless, and stressful for nothing to be done about the crimes they have committed’.”
Following the sentencing, Moira Orr, Procurator Fiscal for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, said: “William Weir subjected his then girlfriend to an appalling assault which left her with permanent scarring.
“The victim is a young woman who has shown courage in holding Weir accountable for his criminal behaviour.
“COPFS are committed to prosecuting crimes of domestic abuse effectively and appropriately, and to working with the police and our partners, to support victims through the criminal justice process.
“I encourage anyone who has been a victim of any such offences to report this to the police.”
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