A drunken Perth pensioner viciously attacked his 65-year-old partner after accidentally sticking his hand in a chip fat fryer.
John Ward, 72, was in “excruciating pain” when he assaulted his victim with jewellery and a TV remote control.
The out-of-control OAP was shut in a room while his partner called police.
Perth Sheriff Court heard she was left bruised following the attack at her home in South Inch View on June 22.
Ward appeared in the dock with his right hand and forearm bandaged and admitted the assault.
Sheriff Robert Vaughan deferred sentence until early next year, for Ward to show he can stay out of trouble.
Shouting and screaming
Fiscal depute Nicole Lewis told the court: “At about 6pm, the complainer was doing housework while the accused was drinking alcohol.
“The accused became aggressive and squared up to her and insulted her.”
Ward continued to “shout and scream” at his partner, before punching and slapping her multiple times to the face.
“She pushed him away and he grabbed a TV remote control and hit her with it,” said Ms Lewis.
“He then picked up a piece of jewellery and struck her with it.
“Her face was red and swollen, which developed into bruising.”
The prosecutor said police were called and Ward was cautioned and charged.
He told them: “What a load of rubbish.”
Serious burns
Solicitor Mike Tavendale, defending, said: “This 72-year-old man appears before the court as a first offender.
“At first glance, it looks like this incident is something entirely different to the one described to the court.
“What the complainer failed to mention is just prior to this incident, Mr Ward accidentally put his hand inside a hot chip pan.
“That led to him being seriously burned.”
Mr Tavendale said: “It seems to have triggered this behaviour.
“I can only imagine that he was in excruciating pain at the time.
“The situation then unfolded in this very bizarre way.”
The solicitor said his client was “still unclear” about what happened.
Ward is now living away from Perth, staying with his daughter in East Kilbride.
“He’s not going back,” said Mr Tavendale.
The court heard Ward suffers ill-health and has “limited” time.
Non-harassment order
Ward’s partner told prosecutors in July she was against the idea of a non-harassment order.
But earlier this month, she called back to confirm she is now in favour of such an decree.
Sheriff Robert Vaughan told Ward: “The court will defer sentence for six months for you to be of good behaviour and prove that this was an isolated incident.”
Ward, whose address was listed on court papers as Chestnut Place, Perth, will return to the dock on February 8 for sentencing.
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