A thug who struck his ex-girlfriend over the head leaving her with blood-stained hair and “crying hysterically” has escaped a jail sentence.
Out-of-control Gary Beckett assaulted his former partner on July 7 at a property in Paisley’s Langcraigs Drive. The 25-year-old brute had a heated argument with his ex after she had been on a night out with friends.
A member of the public was so concerned when they heard the disagreement that they called 999. When cops turned up, they found the woman “extremely dishevelled” and “inconsolable”.
The procurator fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court the incident happened two weeks after the couple’s relationship had ended. However, they had remained in daily contact.
The court heard: “On July 6, the complainer left her home and went on a night out with friends, not returning home until around 8am on July 7. Upon entering her house, she found the accused upstairs in the bedroom.
“A verbal disagreement took place and during that disagreement he assaulted her by striking her on the head with his hand. This caused an injury to the top left of her forehead causing a small cut. An anonymous member of the public called 999 after hearing an altercation.
“Police attended and opened the front door when they heard the female say she couldn’t open the door. Officers noted her to be crying hysterically, that she was extremely dishevelled and that her hair was blood stained. They also noted the cut on her forehead.
“The accused immediately stated, ‘we’ve fallen out, she had a night out and came home with a guy’. Officers noted the complainer was inconsolable.
“The accused was arrested and taken to the police station where he made a no comment interview and made no reply to caution and charge.”
The prosecutor told the court the woman was in support of a non-harassment order being made. Beckett admitted the assault ahead of his trial commencing at Paisley Sheriff Court last month.
Defence agent Mr Malone asked the court to consider the recommendation in the background criminal justice social work report and take a step back from custody.
Sheriff Amel Elfallah yesterday insisted “this is a serious offence” and imposed a “direct alternative to custody” – ordering Beckett to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months.
In addition, he was ordered to wear a tag for three months keeping him within his home address between 7pm and 7am each day.
A non-harassment order was also imposed for three years preventing Beckett, now of Auldearn Close, Glasgow, from contacting or approaching his ex.
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