Victim assaulted by partner on day of her mother’s funeral

A man who assaulted his partner on the day of her mother’s funeral has been sent to jail.

Paul Avery attacked Sheena Stuart at their home in Dunfermline just hours after the emotional ceremony.

The 47-year-old, who was jailed at the High Court in 1995 for an assault, also claimed he knew people who would slash Ms Stuart.

Sheriff Charles Macnair told Avery custody was the only appropriate punishment and gave him six months in prison.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Avery admitted assaulting Ms Stuart to her injury on September 20, last year, at their home in Broomhead Drive.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in a subsequent phone call. Avery, who had been drinking, began acting in a hostile manner towards Ms Stuart. She tried not to react but he kicked her in the face, grabbed her by the hair and struck her against a wall. He then seized her by the throat and pinned her on the sofa.

When Ms Stuart’s sister came to take her away, Avery phoned her sister and threatened to “have her smashed”.

Ms Stuart sustained bruising around her eyes and on her back and a lump on her head.

Avery’s solicitor said his client rarely drank more than a couple of pints of beer and had cut out alcohol completely since the incident, as he was so appalled by his own behaviour.

Sheriff Macnair told Avery that due to his criminal record, which also includes a conviction for carrying knives, his threat must have been frightening.

He said: “Isolated or not, domestic violence will not be tolerated.”