Girlfriend assaulted with '˜Batcave' toy

In the dock was Brendan McIvor (29), of Templeard, who pleaded guilty to common assault on the woman on July 6, 2015.

The prosecution told the court that the complainant had gone to sleep in her son’s room, but her friend had called a short time later. The pair were in the bedroom chatting when the defendant, McIvor, came in.

The couple had a brief argument and McIvor assaulted the woman by throwing a child’s toy at her and he then kicked and punched the woman about the head.

The court heard the defendant pulled the woman by the hair, taking a clump of hair out in the process. She sustained bruising to her right eye and cheek and had friction burns to her right arm. Her friend witnessed the incident.

McIvor was arrested and interviewed. He claimed his girlfriend’s friend caused the injuries so she could blame him.

Defence counsel, Stephen Chapman, said his client realised his behaviour had been outrageous and he had anger management issues.

Passing sentence, Deputy District Judge, Terence Dunlop, said the court would be quite within its rights to send McIvor down for a period of immediate custody for this ferocious assault.

Imposing the 18-month probation order together with a 70-hour community service order, Judge Dunlop said that this would allow McIvor to “turn things around”.