A MAN smeared his girlfriend in ice cream during a dispute, Alloa Sheriff Court heard.

Ian Copeland (53) picked up a bowl of ice-cream and rubbed the contents into Elaine Kendall’s clothes and body.

She eventually got away and locked herself in the upstairs bathroom of their home where she called the police.

When officers arrived they found Ms Kendall at the top of the stairs with Copeland and could see she had ice-cream in her hair.

Copeland appeared from custody on Thursday for sentence. He had previously pled guilty to the assault on 27 June and sentence had been deferred for three months for Copeland to prove he could stay out of trouble.

However, Copeland was sentenced to three months in prison after the court heard he had not been of good behaviour but instead involved in a similar incident with his partner.

Fiscal depute Marie Claire Chaffey explained that Copeland and the complainer had been in an “on-off” relationship for the past 10 years.

At 2.30pm Copeland came home to Tay Court in Alloa where he began watching TV with his partner, and drinking alcohol.

She said, “In the evening the accused started to be aggressive to the complainer who advised him that if he was going back to his previous ways he would have to leave. At this time the accused jumped off the sofa and lunged towards the complainer.” When Ms Kendall put up her hands to defend herself he grabbed them and squeezed them to hurt her.

Ms Chaffey continued, “He grabbed her arm and picked up a bowl of ice-cream sitting on the floor and rubbed it into her clothes and body. She managed to get up to the bathroom and called the police.” Robert Smith, defending, said, “Sentenced was deferred for good behaviour and he has not been of good behaviour. There was a further incident involving Mr Copeland and the complainer and Mr Copeland was sentenced to prison.” He added that Ms Kendall has since written to Copeland while he was in custody, regretting his incarceration, and encouraging him to resume the relationship.

Sentencing Copeland to three months in prison, to run concurrent to his present sentence, Sheriff David Mackie told him, “It seems to me the answer to this issue lies in your own hands. You have to learn to stop resorting to physical means of violence with Ms Kendall.

“You have been given every opportunity to resolve this.

“Given that you are serving a sentence just now there is no option than a custodial sentence.”