Man head-butted girlfriend during row

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

Thirty-five-year-oldWilliam Murray pinned his girlfriend against a wall and head-butted her, Perth Sheriff 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 head-butting 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.

“A staff member contacted British Transport Police and continued to watch the couple,” stated the fiscal.

“They squared up to each other and the accused then head-butted her, knocking her off balance but she didn’t fall over.”

The female pushed back at him as she got her balance.

When taken into custody and cautioned and charged, Murray, of George Square, Ayr, replied: “Awfae sorry.”

Solicitor Mike Tavendale said it wasn’t a“classic case”of head-butting.

“It was more of a push with his forehead against her forehead.”

He had 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.