A DUMBARTON man who appeared in court for the first time has been ordered to carry out hours of unpaid work as punishment for assaulting his then partner.

Neil Stansfield, 39, was sentenced at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday for after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner by seizing the woman’s clothing, pulling her out of a car, repeatedly pushing her on the bed and striking her on the head with his hand, all to her injury, on September 11.

The court heard that the pair had been out drinking together in Dumbarton on September 10. They got a taxi home and went to bed, but the victim woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep so went for a walk in the area.

When she returned she sat in the driver’s seat of the car. She received a call from Stansfield, who stormed out of the house and opened the door of the car, grabbed her by the clothing and dragged her into the house, asking where she had been.

He dragged her into the bedroom and pushed her onto the bed, refusing to let her leave. A witness phoned the police to report a disturbance and police attended. and though Stansfield insisted they were only arguing, but he was detained and taken to Clydebank police station. He was interviewed, cautioned and charged, he made no reply.

Stansfield’s defence solicitor, Lauren Kerr, said: “He wanted to stop her from driving any further because she had been drinking. He is very remorseful. He fully cooperated with the police and has never been in the court before.The relationship is over and she has left the property.”

Sheriff John Hamilton said: “I am willing to draw a line under this matter. You have never been in trouble before.”

Stansfield, of Dumbuie Avenue, was ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within nine months and was placed under social work supervision for 12 months.