Brute battered his partner

A Bellshill man attacked his partner repeatedly during their stormy relationship, leaving him with a scar and damaged hearing.

One of Derek Bonini’s violent outbursts was captured by a camera in his own home, Hamilton Sheriff Court, pictured, heard this week.

Bonini, 42, of Mcintosh Quadrant, admitted four assaults on his victim between March 2021 and June that year.

One of those resulted in severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment.

Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said the couple got together in December 2020 but the relationship was blighted by rows, with Bonini accusing the other man repeatedly of cheating on him.

All of the assaults happened at Bonini’s home and one continued in a nearby shop where his partner had tried to take refuge.

Ms Cunningham said that during the first attack Bonini throttled his partner, leaving him with “significant” bruising around the neck.

The following day they argued again and this time Bonini punched him repeatedly and bit his finger.

On the third occasion he grabbed his finger, opening up an old wound, before chasing him to Premier Store in Lawmuir Road where he grabbed him by the neck.

Despite the violence, the men were back together drinking at Bonini’s home in June 2021 when the victim was again accused of being unfaithful.

Bonini kicked, punched and slapped him, tried to hit him with a bottle and struck him on the side of the head with a porcelain bowl.

He tried to leave but the door was jammed. He called the police and when officers arrived he pleaded with them to kick the door in and rescue him.

Eventually the officers forced entry and Bonini was arrested. Footage lasting nearly 20 minutes was played in court. It showed Bonini shouting abuse and hitting his partner.

The court heard the victim was taken to hospital where he was found to have a 7.5cm cut running from his ear to his scalp. It went right to the bone and required stitches.

Ms Cunningham said: “Porcelain pieces had to be removed.

“Several other cuts were also treated. “He has been left with a scar. There was a loss of hearing in his left ear and now he reports that sounds are muffled.

“He now has trust issues in his relationships and is apprehensive about going out for fear of bumping into the accused.”

Sheriff Colin Dunipace deferred sentence on Bonini until next month for background reports.

The sheriff told him: “With some hesitation, I’ll continue your bail, but be under no illusion. The court takes this matter extremely seriously.”