A MAN who abused his partner at a friend's wedding has been told to attend a domestic violence prevention programme.

Kevin Durno, of Great Michael Road, Arbroath, pleaded guilty to a single charge that on September 16, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause someone to suffer fear or alarm.

He also shouted, swore and uttered abusive remarks as well as removing a mobile telephone from the complainer and throwing it.

His defence team insisted that he had been extremely intoxicated at the time, but has since gone teetotal.

The depute fiscal told Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday that on the night of the incident Durno, 36, attended a friend's wedding with his partner at Broomhall Castle, Menstrie.

At around 1am the accused went to bed and his partner was at the bar, which he was said to be unhappy about. The prosecutor added that the woman then came to the, room but the door had been locked and Durno was hostile.

The fiscal continued: "The accused was argumentative when the complainer returned. He said to her: 'Shut your f*****g puss, ya c***'.

"She then left the room in order for him to calm down and when she returned the door was locked again and she had to be let in by staff."

An incident then ensued in which guests in neighbouring rooms heard banging and a number of similar noises.

The complainer then tried to phone the police but was stopped by Durno who threw her mobile phone on top of a wardrobe where she could not reach it.

Someone then entered the room and found the complainer sitting on the floor in a distressed state at which point the police were alerted.

When officers attended, Durno insisted that it was he who had been assaulted by the complainer.

However, his lawyer, Kelly Howe, told the court last week that he had taken responsibility at the first opportunity and that he has continued contact with the complainer.

She added: "He accepts that alcohol played a part that night, but he has not touched a drop of alcohol since that the night of the incident."

A criminal justice social work report shed a more positive light on the accused and recommended that a supervision order would suffice, alongside an enrolment on a domestic abuse programme.

In sentencing, Sheriff David Mackie said that he completely agreed with the report.

Durno was ordered to be supervised for 24 months, and to attend the Fergus Programme for offenders.