A YOUNG dad who lifted his girlfriend and threw her into the street has avoided jail.

John Curley was out for Hogmanay last year when the evening descended into violence against his partner.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard last week how the 20-year-old had been out at a party and left around 11.30pm, followed shortly after by his girlfriend, who was also 20 at the time.

Curley, previously of Braehead and now of Redburn, Bonhill, was upset when he left and had shouted at people at the party. 

When his partner reached him, he grabbed a plastic bag she had with six cans of lager and swung it to the left side of her head, causing her to stumble and fall backwards.

He then ran away and his girlfriend followed.

Depute fiscal Ian Meacock told the court: “He then lifted her up and threw her into the roadway where she fell and her head hit the ground.

“A passerby in a car stopped to check if she was alright.

“Soon after a police van drove past and on seeing that, the accused ran away.”

Curley pleaded guilty to the assault at a previous hearing.
Defence solicitor Lauren Kerr said Curley had been drinking and that was the only explanation he could offer.

She told the court: “He very much accepts his behaviour was unacceptable. He has been abstaining from alcohol since this incident.

“He considers himself very lucky this didn’t ruin his relationship. They were able to reconcile. It is very much a one-off in his relationship.

“He is very keen that this is the last time he appears before this court.”

Sheriff Simon Pender said his “immediate inclination is to send you to custody” for the “horrendous incident”.

Instead he put him under social work supervision for 18 months and ordered him to do 300 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months – the maximum available.

He added: “If you come back before me having not complied to the letter, then a custodial sentence, and a significant one, is what you will get.”