Former soldier attacked partner at train station

A former soldier who has a history of violence and attacked his partner at railway station the day after Valentine’s Day has been spared jail.

Thirty- five- year- old William Murray, of George Square, Ayr, pinned his girlfriend against a wall and head- butted her, a court was told.

But the ex- squaddie was told by Sheriff William Wood the level of violence was “far from the highest end.”

He spared Murray a jail term and instead ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within the next six months as part of a Community Payback Order.

He will also be supervised by a social worker for the next two years and take part in the Caledonian Domestic Abuse programme.

Sheriff Wood warned him, however: “This is a direct alternative to custody.”

The accused admitted that on February 15, 2017, in Perth’s Leonard Street, he assaulted girlfriend Denise Thomson by placing his forearm against her neck and then headbutting her.

He was jailed for two years at Ayr Sheriff Court on July 19, 2012, for a domestically aggravated assault involving a knife.

He also has convictions for domestic assault to injury and breach of the peace.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court that the pair, who had been in a three- year relationship, had been in Perth and had then gone for a drink.

They started arguing as they purchased rail tickets at the station and both headed towards platform four. They continued shouting at each other and he then pinned her against a wall, using his forearm.

Murray spent three years in Northern Ireland and had experienced “problems” with alcohol in the past.

While in Perth he had taken drink, for the first time in a few years, but had seen the effect it had on him.

This is a direct alternative to custody.