A serial domestic abuser whose “vicious, sustained and horrific” attack on his girlfriend was caught on CCTV has dodged a jail term.
Darren McMenemy shoved Mary Reid over in the lift before repeatedly taking run ups as she cowered on the floor before kneeing her in the head.
The thug, who now has three separate convictions for attacking Miss Reid during their three-year relationship, also rained blows down on her head during the attack.
It was captured in full on CCTV in a horrifying video, which was shown at Dundee Sheriff Court, where McMenemy broke down in tears as it was played.
The video showed McMenemy repeatedly punching Ms Reid on the head, before running up to thrust his knee into her face and body.
McMenemy, 32, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assaulting Mary Reid on April 11 at Tulloch Court, Dundee.
Defence solicitor George Donnelly said: “He saw the CCTV footage and for the first time he has seen him perpetrating an offence on his partner.
“In his own words he said he was filled with disgust.
“However, he is 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 to this lady.”
Sheriff Alistair Brown imposed a community payback order with 200 hours’ unpaid work, two years’ supervision and an order for McMenemy to take part in a rehabilitation programme.
The sheriff said: “I saw the CCTV it was a vicious assault.”