An Angus man who successfully appealed against a jail sentence for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend has been back in the dock.
Scott McCurrach, from Montrose, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Thursday and admitted shouting and swearing at the same woman and his mother, and acting in an abusive manner in the town’s Caledonia Street on April 16 this year.
Solicitor Nick Markowski said his client had admitted the breach of the peace on May 12 but had “not been of good behaviour” the next day.
The 35-year-old was jailed for four months in August over punching and biting the eight-and-a-half-month pregnant woman on May 13.
However, the sentence was reduced at a hearing in front of Lord Brodie and Lady Dorrian at the Criminal Appeal Court in Edinburgh last month.
Instead of the jail term, McCurrach was sentenced to a community payback order with 150 hours of unpaid work.
Mr Markowksi said: “Mr McCurrach pled guilty on May 12. At that time, he was appearing as a first offender. In the interim, he was not of good behaviour.
“Alcohol was at the root of this particular offending. He’s now engaging with Tayside Alcohol Problem Service and hasn’t had a drink since the second incident.”
McCurrach failed to appear in court for sentence last week.
Mr Markowski said: “He apologises to the court because he wasn’t here. In his mind, it had already been dealt with.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray imposed a community payback order for 60 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within six months.