A MAN has been ordered to attend alcohol counselling after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner.

Shaun Dorricott, who lives on Main Street, Tullibody, appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court last week for sentencing after admitting that on December 3, 2016, he assaulted his partner by pushing her, knocking her to the floor and struggling with her before striking her on the head with a bag and its contents. 

He then pushed her, causing her to fall down a flight of stairs to her injury.

The 28-year-old was granted bail following the incident but breached his bail conditions on March 14 of this year after he attempted to contact the complainer directly or indirectly at an address in Alloa, by phoning her without reasonable excuse.

Sentencing had originally been deferred for criminal justice reports, which recommended that the accused should seek treatment for alcohol misuse.

The report also recommended that Dorricott should attend relationship counselling.

Ms Kelly, representing Dorricott, told the court that her client admits when he drinks, that it is to excess.

She said he was now working as a refuse collector, although he is a driver of the truck because he has a condition stopping him from completing manual labour, meaning he can’t carry out any unpaid work.

Ms Kelly proceeded to say that Dorricott could pay a fine and was keen to start counselling to get to the root cause of his problems and why he drinks to excess.

Sheriff David Mackie said he agreed with the criminal justice reports and ordered Dorricott to be supervised for a period of 18 months and to undergo alcohol counselling.