Domestic abuser is caged

A domestic abuser who was banished from court for“unruly behaviour” in the dock has been jailed for four years.

Andrew Mccaw’s former partner lost a tooth when he punched her at a flat in Mcclurg Court, Motherwell.

Mccaw stood trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court, but interrupted proceedings with an outburst as Sheriff John Speir was summing up at the end of the case.

The 37-year-old was sent to the cells while the sheriff continued his charge to the jury.

The court record stated this was for his “unruly behaviour”.

Mccaw was not present a short time later when the jury found him guilty of assaulting a woman to her injury and permanent disfigurement.

He was also found guilty of breaching bail conditions by having contact with the woman.

She told a police officer Mccaw punched her “square on the mouth”, prompting her to pack her bags and leave on April 9 last year.

Police arrived after CCTV operators spotted her in the street. She was shaking and in a distressed state, and was taken to hospital.

After the verdicts, Sheriff Speir deferred sentence for a criminal justice social work report and Mccaw, who had been on remand, returned to court for sentence last week.

The sheriff told him only a lengthy jail sentence was appropriate in the circumstances.

Mccaw’s record includes a High Court appearance in 2019 when he was originally charged with attempting to murder his then partner by setting fire to a bed at a flat in Wishaw.

He eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of assault by punching and kicking the woman after she had accused him of being unfaithful.

Mccaw was jailed for 27 months on that occasion, but that was reduced to 17 months on appeal.