Man dodges jail for vicious attack on ex

He grabbed her throat and hair . . . shoved her against a couch and a wall

A Coatbridge man who carried out a vicious attack on his former partner has escaped a jail sentence.

Thug Paul McBride, 46, of Woodhall Place, Kirkwood, carried out the violent assault at his home on June 18.

Airdrie Sheriff Court heard this week how he seized her by the throat, pushed her, seized her by the hair, punched her and struck her on the head.

He behaved in a threatening or abusive manner, causing her fear and alarm, was shouting, swearing and acted in an aggressive manner.

Sheriff Morag Galbraith, who found him guilty after a trial, said:“I accepted the evidence from the complainer.

“She said he came at her and grabbed her by the throat in the living room of the house. He had her by the hair and shoved her against a couch and a wall.

“She said she was a bit scared and hit out to try and get him off but he grabbed her throat and hair. She said the attack lasted about a minute. His left hand was gripping her hair and his right hand was on her throat.

“He came at her again and punched her twice on the left side of her head. Police were called. There was a mark on her face.”

Photographs taken shortly after the horrific attack were shown to the sheriff.

She added:“The pictures showed visible bruises to the side of her face and some redness.”

The sheriff told McBride:“The community justice social work report says you are a minimum risk of re-offending but you have previous for breaching a non-harassment order.

“This is a significant conviction as this is another domestic incident.”

Sheriff Galbraith put McBride on a community payback order, with 18 months of supervision, and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within six months.

She also imposed a non-harassment order on him for one year, barring him from contacting or approaching his ex-partner in any way.

The sheriff stressed the sentence was imposed as alternative to a jail term.