A MAN who seized his partner by the hair and dragged her into their home will complete 160 hours of unpaid work.

Ryan Barclay received the sentence when he appeared in the dock at Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, October 15.

The court heard from prosecutor Ann Orr that the 35-year-old's partner was sitting on the doorstep of their address in Clackmannanshire on August 1 this year when he assaulted her.

Ms Orr said: "A neighbour was sitting at their window, and the accused was seen to approach [the complainer], seize hold of her hair and pull her into the house."

Barclay was later arrested and charged with assault, and in reply to caution and charge he said: "We were drunk, and we were arguing – it was tit for tat."

Larissa Milligan, defending, said Barclay and his partner were out of work at that time because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and that the lockdown period had been a struggle for both parties.

She added that they were both drinking on the date of the offence, and said that Barclay was "remorseful".

Sheriff Craig Harris described the matter as a "serious incident", but noted there were multiple "stressors" at play when the offence was committed.

In the circumstances, he imposed a community payback order requiring Barclay, of Newbiggin Crescent in Tullibody, to undergo supervision for a period of one year.

He was also required to complete 160 hours on unpaid work in the community.