AN ALLOA man has been given a community payback order after twice assaulting his former partner.

James Donald (28) appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday (18 June) for attacking the woman by punching her with a house key in his hand, and later grabbing her by the throat through the window of a taxi.

He also admitted a further charge of threatening and abusive behaviour towards her and her partner at the time.

Depute fiscal Claire Bremner told the court that the first offence centred on an argument over house keys when Donald and the complainer were in his mother’s house in Lomond Court, Alloa, sometime in either June or July 2014.

She said the two had been arguing in the living room with the accused “standing over the complainer, who was seated, and was shouting in her face”.

Later, in the garden the accused punched her once on the face with the hand his house keys were held in.

Ms Bremner said that Donald then told his mother he had “done something stupid,” and had “accidentally” struck the complainer in the face with the keys.

On 16 March, the complainer and Donald had made arrangements for him to give her some money and that he had arranged a taxi to collect her and bring her to his mother’s house.

When she arrived, she rolled down the window and he threw the money inside.

The court heard that Donald then said: “Are you not even going to come to the door, you miserable b****rd?” Ms Bremner added: “He then grabbed her by the throat but his grip was not strong enough to restrict her breathing.

“The taxi driver then shouted at the accused to let her go which he did. He then drove away.” It was then heard that the complainer had “redness” to her neck as a result of the incident.

The final offence narrated last week involved Donald arriving at the complainer’s address on 18 March – just two days later – before acting in a threatening manner towards her and her partner at the time.

He repeatedly banged on the door, shouted, swore and utter threats of violence, according to the court papers.

The court heard that he shouted to the complainer: “Get the f***ing police; I’m going to f***ing kill you. I’m not going anywhere.” Ms Bremner added: “The two complainers inside were alarmed by the accused’s conduct and called the police. He was then detained to which he replied: ‘f**k this shit’.” Kelly Howe, defending, said that alcohol issues had played a significant part in Donald’s offending behaviour, but that he and the complainer had remained friends since the incidents.

She also informed the court that her client was found as suitable for participation in the Caledonia men’s project to tackle domestic abuse.

Sheriff Gillian Wade described the incidents as “very unpleasant” experiences for the complainer before handing Donald a two-year supervision order with requirement to attend the Caledonia programme.

She also ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months and will be brought back to court in six months time for a review.