AN ALEXANDRIA man has been slammed by a sheriff for his drunken behaviour towards women after he assaulted his partner and suggested she should take her own life.

Kieran Campbell attacked the woman – with whom he had only been in a relationship for a few months – at a house in Haldane on August 3.

The 32-year-old appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty to charges of assault and threatening or abusive behaviuor.

He admitted acting aggressively towards the woman, threatening her with violence, making offensive remarks towards her and then punching her on the head.

The attack happened little more than three months after Campbell, of Lansbury Street, had been released from the sheriff court on bail.

Prosecutor Kara Watt told the hearing: “He had been in a relationship with the woman for a few months. He was within the house with his then partner and three children.

“He went into the kitchen beside the knife drawer and said to her ‘why don’t I use one of these on you or why don’t you jump in front of a car or a train?’.

“She ran into the living room and picked up one of the children and told the other two to go out. He then punched her on the side of her face.

“She climbed over a fence to her neighbour’s and the neighbour phoned the police.”

Defence lawyer Lauren Kerr said: “He accepts his responsibility and the distress he caused. It was effectively the end of their relationship. He had a difficult childhood.”

Sheriff John Hamilton told Campbell: “You obviously have an unpleasant conduct against women, especially when you are under the influence of alcohol. You need to address that.”

Campbell was put on a community payback order, with 12 months of supervision, and was told to do 120 hours of unpaid work within the same period.

He was also ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme for people convicted of domestic violence, and was banned from contacting or approaching the victim of the attack for three years.