A man accused of attacking his wife missed his court date after he was jailed in Dubai over claims he stole a SIM card 14 years ago.
Zeeshan Ahmad says he was locked up in the United Arab Emirates city over the theft allegation from February to September.
Ahmad, 32, was supposed to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court in March to be sentenced for battering his ex-partner and leaving children petrified.
But he did not appear for sentencing because he is said to have been locked up in the UAE.
The details emerged when Ahmad finally returned to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court – nine months later than expected.
He appeared from custody, in handcuffs, having been arrested on a warrant for failing to appear at court.
Defence solicitor Anthony Boland explained: “He had been travelling to Pakistan to look after a relative who was unwell.
“He had travelled to Pakistan through Dubai and was arrested at Dubai Airport for a case from 2005 where he had allegedly not paid for a SIM card.
“As a result of that, he spent February to September in Dubai in custody.
“He was due to be here for a deferred sentence in March, but he had been in jail in Dubai.”
Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill pointed out that the case had been called in March and April and was supposed to be being dealt with by Sheriff Lindsey Kooner.
The judge then said: “I will not deal with this matter as I understand Sheriff Kooner is dealing with this.”
Ahmad is due to return to the dock later this week to learn his fate over the Paisley case, which saw him assaulting ex-partner Zara Avi.
Last November it emerged Ahmad, attacked Miss Avi at a property in Tower Avenue, Barrhead, in August last year.
He grabbed her by the body and pushed her onto a couch.
He also assaulted Abdul Samed Arjumand on the same occasion by grabbing his clothes and causing them to rip.
He placed both Miss Avi and Mr Arjumand, and two children in a state of fear or alarm by acting aggressively, forcing his way inside the property, and shouting and swearing at Miss Avi.
Ahmad, of Darnley, pleaded guilty to the three charges against him after striking a deal with prosecutors to have certain claims deleted from each charge.
Sheriff Kooner had deferred sentence on Ahmad for three months for him to be of good behaviour, to allow him to go and tend to his family member.
Ahmad will return to court for sentencing this week.
