A MAN who viciously attacked his partner at their Duntocher home has been jailed for eight months.

Nicholas Clark was heavily intoxicated when he carried out the violent attack on the woman in February.

He returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week after his punishment was delayed to check whether the woman wanted the protection of a non-harassment order.

The court was told the woman informed police she supported the ban on Clark “100 per cent”. But Clark’s defence solicitor said he had emails from her arguing the opposite.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said he would make a three-year non-harassment order regardless.

Clark, 29, previously admitted pulling out some of his partner’s hair in the attack at a flat in Craigielea Road on February 23.

He seized the woman by the hair, repeatedly struck her on the head with his own head and refused to let go of her hair, causing a section of it to be removed, all while she was holding a young child.

Clark, who was listed in court papers as living at Glorat Avenue in Lennoxtown, also admitted placing the young child at risk of serious injury in the violent assault and shouting, swearing and acting in an aggressive manner towards the woman while in the presence of children.

Sheriff Hendry told Clark: “I’m frankly rather astonished this appears on summary. Your behaviour was intolerable and atrocious to anyone, most of all to a partner and mother of children.”

But the maximum sentence he could impose was just 12 months and, because Clark pleaded guilty early, that was reduced to eight months and backdated to February 26.

At the previous hearing, Clark’s solicitor said: “He has a significant problem with alcohol. He comes across as very pleasant, and has a good relationship and a good job – when he is sober.

“He is contrite and genuine in that condition. The minute he has a drink he becomes a completely different person.

“He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and has a genuine desire to stay out of trouble.”