Bully’s vile attack on his girlfriend
A burly brute repeatedly battered and chased his terrified girlfriend during a drunken rampage, a court has heard.
S e c u r i t y w o rker Ne i l Hutchison, 47, subjected victim Shantelle Addison to a “running assault” through the streets of Paisley following a night out drinking.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard how worried householders who witnessed the domestic horror contacted police – with one man even intervening to stop the attack on Ms Addison.
Fiscal depute Hazel Emmerson told the court the assault took place on the evening of Saturday, April 7 when the couple met up after having been out separately drinking with friends.
The prosecutor said: “They had been out consuming alcohol in the Paisley area.
“A n altercation took place which was heard by witnesses.
“Hutchison pushed the complainer. She fell over. He pinned her to the ground using his knee. He held his hands on her shoulders.
“A witness heard her screaming ‘No.’ “The witness called police. “Ms Addison broke free and the accused pursued her up High Street.
“Hutchison caught up and repeatedly punched her on the body and head.
“She was holding her hands up to her head.”
The court heard Hutchison continued his attack on his partner where he was witnessed beating her up on a public footpath at George Street.
The fiscal added: “He pushed her on the upper body causing her to fall backwards to the ground.
“The witness then contacted police.
“The witness continued to observe Hutchison shouting and swearing at the complainer.
“He said to her ‘I am going to f****** kill you.’
“The witness, Mr Robertson, then made his way down to the street to offer assistance to the complainer.”
The court was told when police arrived Hutchison immediately owned up to the attack saying they had an argument and he had “cracked her” and “punched her a few times.”
Ms Addison’s face was left swollen and bleeding but she declined to give a statement to police.
Hutchison, of Glendower Way, Foxbar, pleaded guilty to charges of repeatedly assaulting Ms Addison by pushing her on the body causing her to fall to the ground, restraining her with his knees, thereafter pursuing her and repeatedly punching her on the head and body to her injury.
Defence agent Matt Lynch said his client was admitting the assault on his partner of three years, however, there had been an element of provocation.
He said: “They had been out drinking. She was out with her friends and he was out with his friends.
“They met up. There was an argument. He bent over to give her a kiss when she bit him on the top lip.
“He accepts he assaulted her and he is very clearly concerned about the court’s powers.”
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told the accused: “I will not countenance the pursuit of any individual, whether male or female, through the streets of Paisley.
“In effect this amounts to a running assault. It is fortunate for you and Ms Addison these injuries were not more serious.
“When you assaulted her, all reason had gone. You gave no thought to the consequences.”
He said first offender Hutchison came within inches of being sent to prison, but handed him a Community Payback Order comprising 240 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.