A domestic abuser who left his partner cowering in the corner of a lift as he viciously attacked her avoided jail — after a sheriff heard he was making efforts to change his ways.
Darren McMenemy, 32, was placed under two years’ supervision and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that McMenemy violently shoved Mary Reid against a lift in Tulloch Court multis, knocking her head against the wall.
Miss Reid fell to the ground and tried to protect herself as McMenemy repeatedly kicked and punched her.
McMenemy then repeatedly took run ups before kneeing and kicking her several times.
Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie told the court the incident was captured on CCTV at 11.10pm on April 11.
The fiscal said: “The accused pushed the complainer violently, causing her to fall to the ground.
“He then repeatedly kicked, punched and kneed her while she was on the ground trying to protect herself.”
The court was shown the CCTV of the incident and members of the public gallery gasped as the assault unfolded. Solicitor George Donnelly, defending, told the court McMenemy had since sought counselling and help and support to change his behaviour.
He said: “He’s trying to embark upon a change in his whole outlook to his partner and society in general.
“Perhaps by the grace of God, rather than anything else, there was no injury.”
McMenemy, a prisoner at Perth, admitted assaulting Mary Reid on April 11 at Tulloch Court.
Sheriff Brown said: “This was a vicious assault. It was persisted in and you returned to continue the assault even though she was curled up in a ball on the floor of the lift.
“That merits a long prison sentence, so does your criminal record. However, she appears to be standing by you.
“It appears that you have got a shock when you saw the CCTV of your conduct and you have done something constructive about it.
“That is all that saves you from a very serious prison sentence.”
He was given six months to complete the unpaid work and also placed on a Change programme requirement.
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