Assault on girlfriend

A brute battered his on-off girlfriend after she’d paid for him to travel to Hamilton from his home in England.

Christopher Roberts, 26, was jailed for 22 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.

He admitted assaulting Victoria Reid and acting in a threatening or abusive manner at her home in Loudonhill Avenue on September 1.

Jennifer Mclaren, prosecuting, said the couple had been in an on-off relationship for four years.

Roberts had been in prison and when he was released he moved to Newcastle, but he stayed in contact with Ms Reid and then asked if he could return to her home.

Ms Mclaren told the court: “On August 30 she paid for him to travel from Newcastle to Hamilton.

“He stayed overnight at her home and the next evening they went to the pub.

“In the early hours they returned to Ms Reid’s home. Roberts told Ms Reid that he’d been approached by another female in the pub who’d asked him to go home with her.

“The accused then became abusive towards Ms Reid, calling her names.”

The court heard Roberts followed his girlfriend out of her home into the close, placed his hand over her mouth and threw her to go to bed.

She did so, but as she lay down on the bed Roberts punched and kicked her, causing her to fall to the floor.

Ms Mclaren added: “He placed his hand over face. She began to scream and bit his hand as she felt her breathing was being restricted.

“The accused shouted that he was going to kill her if she phoned the police, but she made her way to the bathroom and contacted a friend via social media.

“The police were alerted, but when she returned to the bedroom the accused continued to kick her about the face and body, telling her again to get into bed.

“Police officers arrived and overheard Roberts telling Ms Reid not to say what had happened.

“However, she did tell them about the assault as he pleaded ‘Vicky, Vicky, it was only an argument’.”

Ms Reid suffered bruising to her face and body, and was taken to Hairmyres Hospital for treatment.

The court was told Roberts has a record of domestic violence involving Ms Roberts.

His solicitor said alcohol is an issue but “other facets of his personality” might also contribute to his “repeated offending”.

Sheriff Douglas Brown told Roberts: “It has to be a substantial sentence given your record.” the ground, telling her to