by Danielle Lappin

A CLYDEBANK man has acquired a criminal record at the age of 48 after he assaulted his partner.

David Connelly, 48, of Broom Drive, Parkhall pleaded guilty under provocation to assaulting his partner at their home on March 27, 2016, by repeatedly punching her on the head and throwing her onto a bed, causing her injury.

Fiscal depute Scott Simpson told Dumbarton Sheriff Court: “The accused and complainer were at her home having drinks with the complainer’s parents. The accused and the complainer continued drinking after the parents left.

“The complainer does recall and accept that she picked up a vase with flowers and threw them on the floor, saying she had enough.

“The accused took that badly, and that’s when he punched the complainer on the left side of the head.

“The argument continued and spilled over into the bedroom. The accused threw the complainer on to the bed.

“There wasn’t great harm done in the second of those processes, but in the first it was a two-inch laceration to the eyebrow.

“The complainer called police and they attended. The accused was found to be intoxicated.

“Police approached and the accused was interviewed and seemed to accept what had happened.

“He said he believed he had assaulted her but didn’t know.

“Police asked ‘did you assault her?’ and he replied ‘I believe so, but I don’t remember much of it’.”

Connelly’s solicitor, Mr Fitzpatrick, told the court that his client was in full-time employment as a welder and that he had a good relationship with his two daughters from a previous relationship.

Mr Fiztpatrick said Connelly’s wife had died in 2013 and he got together with his new partner in 2014.

“That was far too early for him emotionally,” he said. “Although the relationship started well it escalated too soon for him.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: “At the age of 48 you have acquired a criminal record. Provocation is not an excuse.

“Given the circumstances I will deal with you by way of a fine.”

Connelly was ordered to pay a fine of £200, reduced from £250 for his early guilty plea.