Thug choked his partner

Victim was bitten on face and arm

A thug who choked his partner in a fit of rage has been ordered to stay away from her and a child for five years.

James Shaw also bit the woman repeatedly on the face and body at her home in East Kilbride.

Hamilton Sheriff Court, pictured, heard that he was holding a baby in one arm when he launched the attack.

Shaw, 29, admitted assaulting the woman to her injury and permanent disfigurement in Lothian Way in January 2020.

He also admitted aggressive, jealous and controlling behaviour towards her over a 10-week period.

Sheriff Martin Jones told Shaw, of Clyde Tower, East Kilbride: “My first thought was to send you to prison as this was disgraceful behaviour.

“However, if I did that you would be released into the community with nothing having been done to address the difficulties that led to this.”

Shaw was instead placed under supervision for two years and ordered to attend a domestic abuse project.

He must also do 300 hours of unpaid work and faces a 7pm-7am curfew under an eightmonth electronic tagging order.

The court heard that Shaw bombarded his ex with messages, demanding to know who she was with and where.

Vish Kathuria, prosecuting, said: “Messages were of a jealous and obsessive nature.

“At one point he was wanting to know her every move.

“He would also make derogatory comments about her appearance. This adversely affected her confidence.”

Mr Kathuria said Shaw reacted “furiously” when the woman told him a male colleague was giving her a lift to a work’s Christmas night out.

On another occasion when she was out with female friends he plagued her with messages as he was “desperate” to find out where she was going.

Turning to the assault, Mr Kathuria said it happened after the couple returned from a family celebration.

Shaw started shouting about his partner’s brother, making so much noise that he woke a neighbour.

Mr Kathuria said: “The accused picked up a baby and told his partner she was a bad mother and he was leaving.

“She tried to remove the child from him but he grabbed her by the hair and pinned her down. The neighbour could hear her sobbing.

“He then began to choke her, squeezing her neck so tightly that she couldn’t speak.

“He pressed his face into hers as he shouted. She felt dizzy but managed eventually to get Shaw off her.

“She had extreme pain in her face and was bleeding. She had a bite mark on her cheek and he had also bitten her arm and other areas.”

Shaw’s lawyer said he accepted the way he’d acted was “reprehensible”, adding: “He was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

“He shows a willingness to address his offending behaviour and a positive attitude towards rehabilitation. Social workers say extensive support is needed. He accepts he requires that intervention.”