Thug beat up partner in busy post office

Brute caged for assault after row between couple

A brute has been caged for battering his girlfriend in front of staff in a busy post office.

Jordan Leitch, 28, pummelled Shannon Rooney, 22, in front of her three-year-old daughter.

He had only been going out with her for two months when he spat on her for saying he should not stay over anymore.

At Paisley Sheriff Court, Leitch was locked up after admitting assaulting the woman.

Prosecutor John Penman told how he followed her to the shop before attacking her in front of staff.

He said: “He shouted and swore and made threats.

“Ms Rooney got her daughter and they left. They walked the short distance to the post office.

“The accused continued in the same manner, he was aggressive towards her, in the presence of her daughter. People were coming in and out. He threatened to ‘smash her melt in’ and smash her windows.

“He spat over the shoulder of a worker and it struck Ms Rooney.

“There was a clear punch from him to her in the shop. “Her daughter was standing in front of her when this occurred.

“The wee lass was present throughout all of this – she’s only around three.”

The court heard Leitch kickedoff because Shannon told him she wanted him to stop spending the night.

He had come home drunk with two pals while her little girl was in bed.

She asked the friends to leave and told him she wanted to cool things between them.

Mr Penman revealed Shannon insisted they spend time apart again the next morning at her Johnstone flat on May 1.

He added: “The catalyst for all this was her saying to him she felt the relationship was going too fast.

“When he awoke she asked if he remembered the conversation they had the night before. She suggested he contact his mum and stay there. He was not happy about this.”

Defence lawyer Andy Brophy claimed his client had become hooked of pills.

He said: “This is his first conviction for assault.

“He is on a considerable amount of prescription drugs. “He remembers very little. “He was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his brother dying at 16 from an overdose.

“He was also the victim of quite a serious assault and was hospitalised for a number of days.”

Leitch appeared in the dock with a large scar running down his left cheek.

He served a 90-day stretch after he was caught with a seven-inch blade in the town’s west end two years ago.

The yob claimed drug dealers were threatening him over unpaid debts, when he armed himself with a kitchen knife.

The out-of-it lout was nabbed in Wellmeadow street with the knife.

Sheriff Frances McCartney warned he must serve another stint behind bars because of his record.

She said: “You have pled guilty to serious matters.

“I am satisfied the only suitable disposal is a custodial sentence.”

Leitch, of Hillcrest Avenue, Paisley, was jailed for 190 days.