An Angus man has been jailed for six months after an assault on his partner left his footprint on her back.
Dean Niven, 27, of Viewmount in Forfar, appeared at the town’s sheriff court, where he admitted the attack, which took place on January 7 this year at the couple’s former home on Glenogil Terrace.
Depute Fiscal Hannah Kennedy told the court how Niven and his partner had been in a relationship for six years.
Police had been called to the family home on previous occasions after Niven had shown “anger issues” and been aggressive towards his partner.
On the day in question, Niven had appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court on a separate matter and returned to the house “in a bad mood”.
Depute Fiscal Kennedy said: “He was storming about the kitchen and started shouting.
“There was a child in the house and the complainer’s friend was also there. The accused started being abusive, so much so that the friend took the child upstairs into a bedroom.
“The friend could hear a disturbance going on and screaming coming from the complainer.
“The accused then seized the complainer by her arms, threw her against a wall, knocked her to the ground and dragged her by the body along the floor. He then pushed her and punched her on the face, head and body, knocking her to the ground.
“At this point she was face down and the accused repeatedly stamped on her back, seized her clothes and tore them. The friend dialled 999 and the police attended. The complainer was bleeding and distressed and complaining of lower back pain.”
Niven also admitted possessing a knife during the assault.
Defence agent Bob Bruce said his client accepted the charges and that the relationship was over. He added that Niven received counselling every couple of months as a result of being the victim of a previous assault.
Sheriff Kevin Veal said given that Niven had been placed on bail earlier the same day, the previous nature of the relationship and that there was a child in the house at the time, custody could not be avoided.