A Newburgh man has admitted leaving his partner’s ears torn after a violent attack carried out in the middle of the night.
Andrew Halley, 49, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court to admit the brutal June 13 domestic assault.
The night before, he and his partner had been drinking, separately, in a pub in the Fife village and she had left at around 9pm.
After returning to their flat, she attempted to go to sleep on the couch so as not to disturb Halley but he came through from their bedroom and began to hurt her.
Assault
Fiscal depute Calum Gordon said: “The accused entered the living room asking where the complainer had been.
“She was explaining she had been locked out and slept in the car.
“At this point, the accused began shouting, telling the complainer to leave.
“The accused then grabbed the complainer by the arms, manhandling her out the front door.
“The complainer advised the accused she would leave but wanted to retrieve some personal items first.
“The accused then pushed the complainer to the ground.
“The complainer once again tried to enter the flat.
“The accused punched her to the right side of her face. This caused bruising and swelling.
“The accused then grabbed the complainer by the ears with such force that the ears began to tear and weep.
“The accused then grabbed the complainer around the neck with both hands and throttled her for several seconds before pushing her once again to the ground and slamming the door.”
Injuries
The woman made her way to a friend’s house and contacted the police.
She was left nursing a host of injuries including the torn ears, swelling on her face, reddening around her neck and bruising on her arms.
Sheriff Alison Michie ordered a social work report and instructed Halley be examined for a potential Restriction of Liberty Order.
The sheriff continued consideration of imposing a non-harassment order.
He will be sentenced on August 9.
