A thug who left his partner bloodied and bruised after she accused him of cheating has been jailed.
David McColl, 32, attacked Diane Randals at a property on Bruce Road, Arbroath, between August 1-2 last year.
He previously admitted punching and slapping Ms Randals on the head, pushing her on the body, seizing her by the neck and pushing her on to a bed.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard McColl had planned to meet a woman he described as being a friend on August 1.
However, Ms Randals believed McColl was being unfaithful to her.
Depute fiscal Chris McIntosh told the court: “An argument broke out and the accused punched the complainer on the head, which burst her lip open.
“He then slapped her about the head and pushed her about the living room.”
A second argument broke out in the early hours of August 2, when McColl – a prisoner at Perth – seized Ms Randals by the throat and threw her on to a bed.
McColl returned to court following the preparation of social work reports.
Solicitor Sarah Russo told Sheriff Alastair Brown that both McColl and Ms Randals were under the influence of illicit substances and her client was “ashamed” of his actions.
She said: “He fully accepts his actions and the part he played in it.
“He does have a significant record and is no stranger to the prison system.
“Both he and the complainer have their drug difficulties and both were under the influence of illicit substances on the dates in question.”
Before sentencing McColl to 20 months in prison – backdated to August 20 – Sheriff Brown said: “This court will not tolerate assaults from domestic partners.
“It will always deal with them in a serious way.”
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