A Fife brute savagely beat his partner, then handed a £5 note and “told her to get help”.
Christopher Maxwell’s victim thought she would die as he kicked and punched her, inflicting four broken ribs and gashes to her head, which had to be glued shut.
He also compressed her neck with both hands, leaving bruises.
A sheriff warned Maxwell, of Meadowfield in Cowdenbeath, he is likely be jailed when he returns to court for sentencing after admitting assault to severe injury.
Night out turns to terror
Procurator fiscal depute Jamie Hilland told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the couple, who had been planning to get married, were out with friends in pubs before heading to Dunfermline’s Life nightclub at around 2.45am on February 5 this year.
Mr Hilland said the couple argued when Maxwell accused his partner of cheating and they took a taxi home to Rosyth.
The woman entered the house and ran upstairs to the bathroom and locked herself in.
Maxwell was described as coming into the house shouting at her and continuing to accuse her of cheating.
He then unlocked the bathroom door and carried out the assault, which lasted between five and 10 minutes.
The fiscal depute continued: “He pinned her to the floor with both hands round her neck and compressed it to the point she thought she was going to die.
“He continued to kick her before realising (she was) bleeding heavily from the nose and head”.
Mr Hilland said the woman then got up and Maxwell handed her a £5 note and “told her to get help”.
The woman then ran to her mother’s house and was taken to the emergency department at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where a nurse contacted police.
Prison warning
While in hospital, the woman received a message from Maxwell indicating he intended to kill himself and apologising for his behaviour.
Police went to the property and found him asleep.
He was arrested and interviewed at Dunfermline police station and accepted responsibility for the assault.
Defence lawyer Alexander Flett said his client, a full time labourer, is “extremely remorseful” for what happened.
Mr Flett said the woman’s statement to police described their relationship prior to this incident as “good”, with ups and downs but no physical abuse.
Sheriff Charles Macnair adjourned sentencing until June 21 for the production of background reports.
He said: “Make no mistake, you should prepare yourself for what might well be a lengthy custodial sentence when you reappear.
“It depends on the report but that is the most likely outcome, having regard to the nature of the assault”.
The court heard that Maxwell has no previous convictions.
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