A MAN who assaulted his ex-partner will undergo an assessment for a domestic abusers’ programme – despite questioning if it would be a good use of council resources.

Grant Mathieson appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, August 23, after pleading guilty to the assault at an earlier hearing.

The charge which he pleaded guilty to states that on May 26 of this year at Finglen Terrace, Tullibody, where the accused lives, Mathieson assaulted his former partner by seizing her on the body and pulling her from the doorway of the property.

The charge was amended to remove an allegation that he placed her head under his arm to her injury.

A second charge of causing fear and alarm by uttering threats of violence was dropped.

Mathieson’s defence lawyer, Mr Ross, told the court that the criminal justice social work report contained areas of concern, particularly the “odd statement” that they were unable to “identify any protective factors”.

Mr Ross continued to say that the family of the accused are currently looking after the pair’s son and that the complainer was now living in Dunblane with her mother.

The defence lawyer went on to say that his client had “questioned whether the Caledonian Men’s Programme was a good use of council resources”, although he does accept that he abused his partner.

The court then heard that the former couple had phoned the police on each other “numerous times”.

Sheriff David Mackie deferred sentence on the 29-year-old for three weeks to have the assessment for the programme carried out.