A THUG who left his partner terrified after a furious outburst at a house in Dumbarton, and then kicked another woman on the head and caused her to fall down a flight of stairs, has been jailed for nearly three years.

Craig McKinnon was locked up for what a sheriff described as “an example of the highest level of domestic abuse”.

The 31-year-old appeared at the town’s sheriff court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to three charges of assault and two counts of threatening or abusive behaviour.

A 12-month-old child was present when the incident happened at a property in Brucehill on June 20.

McKinnon shouted, swore, behaved in an aggressive manner, refused to let his partner leave with the child and left his partner in a state of fear and alarm.

He kicked and repeatedly struck the second woman on both the head and body, causing her to repeatedly fall down a flight of stairs and to strike her head on the ground.

On the street outside the property, McKinnon also shouted, swore and made references to stabbing and killing police, and injured two police officers - hitting one on the arm and kicking him on the head, and kicking another on the body.

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The court heard that McKinnon, who has previous convictions for violent and threatening behaviour and is currently an inmate at Low Moss prison in Bishopbriggs, last served a jail sentence in 2016.

He was brought into the dock in handcuffs after being remanded in custody following his guilty pleas, pending the preparation of a background report from social workers.

His solicitor, Edel McGinty, told the court: “He is referred to in the report as experiencing a great deal of remorse in respect of his actions.

“These are not crocodile tears for the benefit of the court. There is a considerable difference between the Mr McKinnon of old and of now.

“He got involved in a relationship with the complainer in this case and managed to secure employment as a kitchen porter - and such was his dedication and determination to stay out of trouble that he rose through the ranks to a position of trust as a bar manager.

“In respect of the events that took place on June 20, he is nothing but the author of his own misfortune. It’s a course of conduct for which I can offer no mitigation and he accepts that.

“He is also the first to recognise that a custodial sentence is inevitable and, quite frankly, well deserved.

“His actions were the result of a significant intake of alcohol.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told McKinnon: “Your behaviour was hideous. You had absolutely no regard for anyone else’s interests; you treated them with utter disdain.

“This is an example of the highest level of domestic abuse that I’ve had the misfortune of dealing with. And you treated another person with significant violence.

“I cannot deal with you in any way other than by a custodial sentence.”

McKinnon was jailed for a total of 33 months, backdated to June 21, when he was first taken into custody.

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