Thug gets chance after assaulting his partner

Opportunity to break cycle

He has, by his own hand, had a miserable existence and treated his partner in an appalling way Defence agent John McLaughlin

A serial domestic abuser has been given a chance to end his “appalling” criminal record.

Thomas Murphy first assaulted his longsuffering partner 16 years ago, Hamilton Sheriff Court, pictured, heard last week.

The latest incident happened in front of shoppers in East Kilbride.

Murphy had just been freed from prison when he lost his temper, leaving the woman “scared and embarrassed”.

Murphy, 51, admitted grabbing her and pulling her at East Kilbride Shopping Centre on May 11 last year.

Days earlier Murphy had been released after serving a 22-month jail sentence for assaulting his partner at her home in Quebec Drive, East Kilbride.

On that occasion he knocked her to the floor, put his hands around her neck and applied pressure by putting his foot against the back of her head.

Referring to the notorious serial killer, he warned ‘I’ll do worse than what Fred West did’.

The latest assault happened when the couple had a row while they were out shopping.

Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said: “The accused grabbed his partner by the jacket and pulled her, making comments to passers-by such as ‘This is how you should be treating a woman’.

“She was scared and embarrassed, but there were no actual injuries.”

Defence agent John McLaughlin said drink and substance abuse have been at the root of Murphy’s problems.

He stated: “He has, by his own hand, had a miserable existence and treated his partner in an appalling way.

“At the age of 51, he realises he’s going to kill himself through drink and drugs or spend the rest of his life in prison.”

Sheriff John Speir told Murphy: “You have an appalling record and I note that the first assault on your partner was back in 2007.

“A community payback order was tried before and failed, but I’m persuaded to impose another order. I take into account that you have spent about 10 months in custody since this offence.”

Murphy will be under supervision for two years.

The sheriff also imposed a nonharassment order, banning him from any contact with his ex for three years.