A “DISGUSTING” thug downed 40 Valium pills before launching a shocking attack on his girlfriend in public because she refused to buy him any more drugs. 

Iain Shaw, 27, had to be pulled from his victim by a stranger after using a bus stop pole to propel his feet against her head as schoolchildren walked home nearby.

His girlfriend, who had only just had their first child five months earlier, curled into a ball to protect herself as he subjected her to a “hideous” level of violence that left her bloodied and extremely shaken. 

Shaw – who lives in Dumbarton – pleaded guilty to the assault to injury at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Wednesday.

The court was told he turned to Valium after kicking an excessive drinking habit. had managed to stop drinking alcohol after years of excess, but then turned to Valium instead.

His defence solicitor said it could explain why he didn’t remember anything about the February attack.

Shaw was staying with his 19-year-old girlfriend through the weekend of February 11 and 12 and consumed a “quantity of Valium”, said depute fiscal Sarah Healing.

Around 4pm on Monday, February 13, Shaw left the house planning to purchase more Valium. While he was at the bus stop, an argument broke out. He was planning to travel by bus and it was at the bus stop an argument broke out.

Ms Healing said: “He wanted the complainer to pay. She informed the accused she had no money and started to walk away from him. The accused headbutted the complainer just about her ear, after which he punched her on the head, causing her to fall to the ground. She was unable to get up because the accused then kneed her in the face, causing her to curl herself up in a ball.”

Ms Healing said Shaw kept punching his partner on the head as she “cowered on the ground”, the punches raining down “quickly”.

She continued: “[Shaw] then used the bus stop to steady himself before jumping on the complainer’s head and body as she was still lying on the ground. He managed to remove both his feet from the ground and land his full body weight at least twice.”

This was all while Shaw continued to shout and swear at his partner.

A passing motorist stopped and shouted at Shaw to stop and leave the teenager alone, but he kept punching her. Another passerby then took hold of him and dragged him away.

The young woman was described as “extremely shaken and upset” and was bleeding from the mouth.

It was the passers by who phoned police and officers went to the victim’s home to check on her wellbeing.   and she confirmed Shaw as the attacker. Shaw was arrested later.

When interviewed at Clydebank police office, he said: “I can’t remember it – I was too full of it.”

Astonishingly, Shaw’s partner only had a “slight cut” in her mouth and swelling around the side of her head. She has fully recovered.

Defence solicitor Brian McGuire said Shaw had a substantial schedule of previous convictions to match a substantial drink problem. He took courses in prison and had successfully tackled his addiction “until this episode”.

He said: “[Shaw] addressed this himself and matters in his life had improved considerably. It must be two years in this relationship. Shortly before this happened, I met him by chance and I was encouraging him to keep up the good work.

“After their child was born, it was taken into foster care. He and his partner were stressed and he didn’t turn back to drink, but turned to Diazepam instead.”

Mr McGuire said Shaw took an estimated 40 Valium over the weekend and described his client’s behaviour as “ridiculous”.

Sheriff William Gallacher interrupted and said: “It’s horrific, it’s awful, it’s hideous.”

Turning to Shaw he said: “The attack was disgusting and despicable. The level of violence is utterly shocking.”

He said a lengthy prison sentence was inevitable, but called for extra reports to consider whether Shaw will have to be supervised when he is released. He will be sentenced on May 17.