Man behind ‘dress that broke the internet’ admits assaulting wife

A man behind the viral photograph of a dress that “broke the internet” has admitted to assaulting his wife.

Keir Johnston, 38, and his wife, Grace, gained worldwide fame after posting a picture online of the dress her mother wore to their wedding in 2015, asking if it was black and blue or white and gold.

It was nicknamed “the dress that broke the internet” after the poor quality image sparked fierce debate across the globe and even led to the couple appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in the US where they were given $10,000 (£7,979) and a luxury trip to Grenada.

However years later in March 2022, Mr Johnston threatened his wife, pinned her to the ground and choked her before brandishing a knife, a court heard. During the attack he is believed to have said: “Somebody is going to die.”

Mrs Johnston sent messages to friends pleading for help as she thought it would take the police too long to reach their home on the Isle of Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides. There is no permanent police presence on the island.

‘My husband is trying to kill me’

She later called 999, and said: “My husband is trying to kill me.” The court heard Mr Johnston inflicted a history of “domestic abuse” on his wife.

It led to the petrol station attendant appearing at the High Court in Glasgow, where he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife, to her injury and the danger of life.

He had been on bail, but was remanded in custody by Judge Lady Drummond ahead of sentencing next month.

She told him: “You repeatedly strangled her, injured her and put her life in danger in what must have been absolutely terrifying circumstances for her.

“I am afraid, Mr Johnston, that your status has now changed, you have been convicted of a very serious crime and you will be remanded meantime.”

Prosecutor Chris Macintosh told the court that on March 6 2022 Mr Johnston had been drinking at a pub quiz on the Isle of Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides.

His wife returned home after receiving strange texts from him that said: “You should support me, but you do not.”

She found him asleep but he woke and told her he was going to leave her.

When Mrs Johnston went outside, he followed her and pinned her to the ground and strangled her with both of his hands.

Mr Macintosh said: “She was initially able to scream. She feared for her life and believed Johnston intended to kill her. He was very forceful.”

A witness heard her screams and attempted to pull Mr Johnston away.

He then stopped and went inside but later threatened to “finish” his wife “off”.

The husband was then seen clutching a knife with Mrs Johnston managing to “keep her distance” as she believed he would stab her.

She suffered visible bruising to her neck during the attack.