A THUG who carried out a vicious attack on his partner while she was holding on to a four-month-old baby has been spared a prison sentence.

Francis McGinley, 28, of Halley Place, Yoker, carried out a prolonged attack on the woman at a flat in Montrose Street, Clydebank.

A trial before Sheriff Tom Ward heard how McGinley seized the woman by the hair and pushed her fingers into her eyes, then chased her into a bedroom, where he seized her by the throat and pinned her against a wall.

The trial heard he repeatedly punched and struck the woman on the head, struck her head against a wall, chased her into a kitchen and repeatedly seized and twisted her hands.

Defence lawyer William Marshall said: “In relation to his ex-partner he has had no contact with her since the offence. He is well aware he now has a conviction for violence, indeed domestic violence, but he continues to have the support of his family.”

Sheriff Ward told McGinley: “This must have been a very terrifying experience for your ex-partner. The only thing in your favour is your lack of previous convictions.”

McGinley was put on 12 months’ supervision and told to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work by July 2019.

Sheriff Ward also imposed a two-year non-harassment order.