Seven months for man who attacked pregnant partner

Published 2 Jun 2010 10:31

A MAN who assaulted his pregnant girlfriend after drinking Buckfast and taking valium tablets has been sentenced to seven months in prison.

Hugh Muir (21), of Castle Street, Clackmannan, appeared from custody at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, having previously admitted assaulting his now ex-girlfriend on 17 September last year in the town's Izatt Terrace, holding her against a car and punching her on the head to her injury.

Muir also pled guilty to breaching his bail conditions on the 11 December by attempting to contact his ex girlfriend, and a further two separate charges of assault - one against his ex partner and the other against her friend - on 4 May this year at Zetland Street in Clackmannan.

Fiscal depute Jim Graham told the court that Muir and his then girlfriend of five years got into an argument in their home.

Later that evening she and a female friend went to a relative's house - only to discover that Muir was already there.

His girlfriend didn't want to speak to him and left, but Muir ran down the street shouting at her, before grabbing her by the neck, pinning her against a car and punching her face, shouting, "I don't care if you are pregnant."

When initially interviewed by police officers Muir denied the assault. But he told the police he had consumed a bottle and a half of Buckfast and 12 valium tablets.

Argument

In relation to the assaults on 4 May, Muir had turned up at Zetland Street to speak to his ex-girlfriend but had been escorted out of the house after they got into an argument.

Muir took exception to this and, on leaving the house, grabbed a pram. His ex-girlfriend went outside to retrieve it. Muir then punched her before assaulting her friend who came outside to help her.

Muir's solicitor said that his client had accepted that his relationship was over and that things had stayed on a relatively even keel until May when the last incident took place.

Mr Savage added that Muir had referred himself to drug and alcohol counselling, and that he had lashed out after reacting poorly to stress.

Sheriff William Gilchrist told Muir he had run out of chances.

He added, "When you appeared in September charged with assaulting your then pregnant girlfriend, you were lucky not to be sent to prison at that stage, particularly given your record.

"You were given the opportunity to show that you could stay out of trouble.

"You breached bail and were given another opportunity to stay out of trouble and that resulted in two assaults.

"I am satisfied the time has come to sent you to prison."

Sheriff Gilchrist backdated Muir's sentence to 5 May when he was first remanded in custody.

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