Domestic abuser jailed for six years of violence against ex

A Dunfermline man was jailed for subjecting his former partner to six years of violence, even attacking her while she was pregnant.

Paul McMullan was told by Sheriff Charles MacNair that domestic assault would not be tolerated as he was sentenced to 17 months in prison and a five-and-ahalf month supervised release.

The 35-year-old, of Inchkeith Drive, admitted offences against his partner between June 1 2006 and August 19 2012.

Dunfermline Sheriff Court previously heard he struck her with a large bottle of cider and a lit cigarette which burned her.

He also threw her high-heeled shoe at her and regularly made offensive remarks to her.

During one struggle he grabbed her mother and threw her out of the house.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman at addresses in Wedderburn Crescent, Bittern Court and Segal House, Dunfermline; High Street, Cowdenbeath; and Finnegan’s Bar in Edinburgh.

He also admitted three charges of breaching the peace, including in one incident, seizing his victim and pushing her out of the house and another struggling with a man at Abbeyview Bowling Club.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia said the couple’s relationship ended but they re-established contact recently when he said was a “changed person”.

Defence solicitor Chris Sneddon said the couple had a tempestuous relationship and both regularly drank to excess.

He said: “His position is that his behaviour was unacceptable, disgusting and selfish.”

Sheriff MacNair told McMullan: “Over of a period in excess of six years you behaved in a violent and abusive manner to your partner.

“Domestic violence of this sort has a devastating effect on the victims. It is the element of control which is significant.

“Domestic abuse of this sort will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

A three-year non-harassment order was also imposed by way of sentence.