A man kicked in his neighbour’s door and attacked her in front of her terrified children for no reason.
David McConnell had been assaulted minutes earlier and needed someone to take his anger out on, his lawyer claimed.
McConnell, 43, of Marian Drive, Carfin, was jailed for 18 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
He admitted forcing entry to a flat, assaulting his neighbour then hurling abuse at police officers on October 15.
Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said the woman was with her children, aged five and three, around 5pm when she heard a disturbance outside.
She looked out and saw McConnell being kicked repeatedly on the head by another man.
Ms Cunningham told the court: “A short time later the accused started kicking her door and forced entry to the flat.
“He went into the living room and shouted ‘It’s your fault’ then punched the woman repeatedly on the chest and neck.
“The woman was terrified. McConnell fled and another neighbour who heard the disturbance found her screaming and crying.
“The three-year-old child was also crying and was saying repeatedly ‘I don’t want the bad man to kill my mum’.
“The woman suffered bruising as a result of the assault.”
Police traced McConnell nearby and saw he had a graze on his forehead.
He made threats towards them and shouted homophobic abuse.
Defence agent Tom Watters said McConnell’s life has been “blighted by depressive illness and addiction issues”.
He claimed neighbours had “harassed and bullied” him, but stressed that he had no problems with the woman he assaulted and wished to apologise.
Mr Watters stated: “He was assaulted that day and decided someone would have to be dealt with as a result.
“His recollection is vague, but he accepts what he has heard.
“It must have been distressing for the woman and her children.”
Sheriff Thomas Millar said it was a serious matter and pointed out that McConnell has previous convictions for assault.
The sentence was reduced from two years to 18 months because of his guilty pleas and backdated to October 16 as McConnell has been in custody since his arrest.
