A man who attacked his partner and sparked a major police response on a Dundee street just hours after coming out of court has avoided jail.
Liam Rodgers left Mhairi Bard hospitalised following an argument which took place while she was driving and escalated into an assault.
He also drove dangerously, nearly running over his partner and two others on South Road on February 5.
Police had to cordon off part of the busy road while they dealt with the incident.
Rodgers launched his attack hours after appearing in the dock at Dundee Sheriff Court on other matters.
The court was told the 28-year-old was infuriated because his partner had headbutted him during the argument.
He admitted pulling her hair, repeatedly punching her on the head and body and causing her to fall to the ground, while on a bail order granted on August 23, 2018.
Rodgers’ stepsister, who was in the back seat alongside another of his family members, pulled on the handbrake and the couple got out of the car, resuming their fight in the street.
The accused then got into the driver’s seat, steered the vehicle towards Ms Bard and two others and drove onto the pavement and a grassy area, narrowly avoiding colliding with the three pedestrians.
The prosecution claimed Rodgers’ actions were intended to “intimidate” his victims
Police were called and Ms Bard was taken to Ninewells Hospital suffering from facial injuries and a bump on the head.
Defence solicitor Gary McIlravey said his client had “re-invented” himself since the incident, by giving up drugs and starting a college course.
Mr McIlravey insisted Rodgers did not intentionally drive towards anyone who had been in the car and had simply lost control of the vehicle.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond ordered Rodgers to perform 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for a year.
