Prison for man who attacked partners

Nineteen-month sentence after guilty plea

A serial offender who admitted assaulting three different partners has been jailed for 19 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Alan Hutton was told he had put his victims through a “thoroughly unpleasant” ordeal by headbutting them, pulling their hair and throttling them.

Hutton (33), a prisoner, admitted attacking the women over a period of more than 10 years.

Jennifer Brisbane was assaulted at addresses in Chapel Street, Rutherglen, and Blackbraes Road, East Kilbride; Karen Mcculloch was targeted at a house in Murray Drive, Stonehouse; and the third victim,emma Murray, suffered at Hutton’s hands at houses in Scotia Crescent Larkhall.

The court heard that Hutton has four previous convictions for domestic offences and has also served an 18-month prison sentence for culpable and reckless conduct.

Defence agent Jackson Bateman accepted the latest charges were serious, but insisted his client has matured and now realises such behaviour is “unacceptable”. and Muir Street,

Mr Bateman suggested Hutton could be put on a programme for domestic abuse offenders, adding: “It would be an alternative to custody. He would be monitored closely and could also do unpaid community work.

“By pleading guilty, he saved the complainers from having to come to court to give evidence, and that’s significant.”

However, Sheriff Ray Small told Hutton: “Although the cases are old, they are still thoroughly unpleasant and you already have a bad record for domestic violence. In the circumstances only custody is appropriate.”

The sheriff said Hutton will be supervised for nine months on his release from prison and he also imposed a non-harassment order which bans the accused from contacting any of his victims for two years.