AN ANGUS man attacked his partner after drunkenly suspecting her of cheating on him with his best friend.
Darren Brown (35), of Warddykes Road, Arbroath, appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court yesterday, following the incident on Tuesday.
He admitted assaulting the woman at St Vigeans Gardens, Arbroath, by seizing her by the hair and dragging her.
The court heard the couple had been in a relationship for six years.
Both had been drinking alcohol on Hogmanay and an argument broke out around 1am.
Depute fiscal Hazel Anderson said Brown had accused his partner and his best friend of having an affair, when he raised the matter at an address at St Vigeans Gardens.
She added: “She became frightened and the accused dragged her off the couch. She contacted the police by calling 999.”
Brown pleaded guilty to an amended charge agreed with the Crown, and not guilty to a second charge.
He was so heavily under the influence of alcohol that he began making “various admissions,” to police when they arrived.
Brown was arrested and taken into police custody.
In reply to caution and charge he told the arresting officers to, “go away.”
Defence agent Billy Rennie said his client had made “full and frank” admissions to the police upon being interviewed.
Brown admitted he had been “ridiculously drunk” throughout the entire incident.
Mr Rennie said: “He made stupid allegations regarding his best friend and his partner.
“These were no doubt contributed to by the time of year.”
Mr Rennie told Sheriff Peter Paterson that Brown, who has worked as a fisherman and a labourer, had previous convictions for the possession of cannabis over the last 10 years.
Sheriff Paterson ordered Brown to pay a £200 fine.
gbletcher@thecourier.co.uk.