Self-defence plea for former Dundee Utd player Ralph Milne

Former Dundee United footballer Ralph Milne has lodged a plea of self-defence to a charge of assaulting a woman.

The 52-year-old, who also played for Manchester United, appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

He denies grabbing the woman by the head, seizing her by the neck, forcing her head towards a cooker and frying pan of hot fat.

Milne, of Arbroath Road, Dundee, further denies repeatedly punching the woman on the head to her injury during the alleged attack at a house in Ravensby Road, Carnoustie, on June 9.

Sheriff Peter Paterson continued the case to August 7 for trial.