An Arbroath man who tried to throttle his girlfriend after a young friend’s wake has been jailed for 10 months.
Greenkeeper Kevin Brand then spat in a female police officer’s face as he was being arrested for the offence.
His solicitor told Forfar Sheriff Court the 31-year-old was full of remorse for the incident but Brand was told he had to go to jail for the “act of drunken violence” and was lucky to have appeared on a summary complaint and not a more serious indictment.
Brand, of Glenesk Place, appeared before Sheriff Simon Collins for sentencing having previously admitted assaulting his partner at a house in Declaration Way, Arbroath, on January 21 by seizing her, throwing her against a wardrobe and putting his hands around her throat, restricting her breathing.
He also admitted the police assault.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said the pair had been in a relationship for six years and had been at a funeral on January 20. Brand returned home in the early hours, after the wake, but when he came into the house a row broke out and he became abusive.
The assault then took place and the victim managed to contact a neighbour before finally getting out of the house to call the police.
The fiscal added: “The accused is arrested and it is when he is being taken to the van that he spits on the female PC, striking her on the face, hair and glasses.”
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said: “He recognises how atrocious his behaviour was in relation to both charges and has described it as horrifying.”
The court heard Brand had previously been imprisoned for offences committed at Ninewells Hospital in 2005, but since then his offending had reduced dramatically.
Mr Rennie added: “He had been abstinent from alcohol for a good number of years, but unfortunately this was the wake following the funeral of a friend in his 20s and while that is no excuse, it shows that this is somewhat out of character in the last 10 years.
“He is no longer drinking and knows he cannot go back to drinking again.”
Sheriff Collins told Brand: “You pled guilty to a serious assault that might otherwise not be found on summary complaint.
“It was an act of drunken violence and you also used totally unacceptable conduct towards a police officer. I am satisfied there is no alternative to custody.”