A terrified Perth woman hid in the bathroom when her boyfriend flew into a drunken rage after a Christmas night out.
Michael Donald was arrested after the outburst at his Barossa Street home in the early hours of December 19.
He was locked up days later after he breached a strict court order demanding he stay clear of his partner.
Appearing from custody at Perth Sheriff Court, Donald, 32, admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
He also pled guilty to failing to comply with an undertaking.
Post-party abuse
The court heard that on December 19, Donald and his partner had been out in Perth city centre separately for Christmas parties with workmates.
She arrived home at 2am and Donald, who was already home, went out again and came back a short time later.
His girlfriend asked him where he had been, said fiscal depute Andrew Harding.
“His mood changed and he became aggressive.
“He began shouting at the complainer, calling her a sket and a slag.”
Mr Harding said: “He then kicked over a table and began throwing things around the house.
“He caused various household items to break.
“She was extremely fearful of the accused’s escalating behaviour, so much so that she hid in the bathroom and phoned the police.”
Officers arrived at the flat and arrested Donald.
He was released on an undertaking later that day and ordered not to go near his partner.
Police caught him with his partner at his flat on Tuesday, Mr Harding said.
Good behaviour order
Solicitor Mike Tavendale said: “They had both been on works’ nights out and both of them had too much to drink.
“An argument ensued and Mr Donald ended up in custody.”
Mr Tavendale said Donald’s partner had phoned and emailed police, telling them she wanted her boyfriend’s bail conditions lifted.
“This is a situation which Mr Donald acknowledges should not have happened,” said Mr Tavendale.
“He has asked me to tender his apologies to the court.”
Mr Tavendale urged the court to defer sentence to show that this was a “one-off” incident.
Sheriff William Wood agreed.
He said to Donald: “You are 32 years old. What’s going on?”
Donald replied: “It’s just drink, your honour.”
Sheriff Wood deferred sentence until June 7 for a good behaviour report.
“This appears to be a situational thing rather than anything more sinister,” he said.
