A Shawhead thug who beat up a woman in a Coatbridge flat has avoided prison time, but will be electronically tagged for a year and was ordered to pay his victim £500 in compensation.
Alexander MacPhee, 22, of Cheviot Court, carried out the vicious assault in Jackson Court on February 12 last year.
Last week, Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how MacPhee repeatedly seized her on the body, grabbed her throat and pinned her against a wall.
The brute then punched the woman on the head, causing her to fall to the ground, and kicked her on the body.
MacPhee denied intending to rape his victim, demanding that she had sexual intercourse with him and making threats of violence towards her, which was accepted by Crown prosecutors.
Defence counsel Janice Green, advocate, said: “He accepts the seriousness of the offence and has been advised that the court would be well within its rights to impose a custodial sentence and that it will be considering that disposal.
“He accepts that even although the original charge has been amended. There is no question of his trivialising the consequences. A community-based disposal is available and I would suggest it is the most appropriate.
“The injury from the charge saw a crown of her tooth having to be replaced.
“It was a single punch to the face which was described as a clip to the ear. The assault in the kitchen must have been a frightening experience; the whole incident was over in a relatively short space of time.
“He had a limited romantic involvement with her; the incident caused justified outrage at the time.
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“He has previous convictions, all at summary and mainly low level. This could be treated as a single event; drink was the catalyst of the offence.
“He is motivated to remain out of custody. A community payback order would be a test of his maturity.
“He is in full-time employment and has been for the past four years.
“He pleaded guilty on the first day of the sitting when he was due to go trial. Witnesses were countermanded and not inconvenienced.”
Passing sentence on MacPhee, Sheriff Frank Pieri informed him: “These are serious matters which had serious consequences and I could easily impose a prison sentence.
“By the slimmest of margins I can impose a community-based disposal.”
MacPhee was put on an 18-month community payback order, which included supervision.
He was also tagged for one year and ordered to be at home every Friday from 8.30pm until 7am Saturday; and every Saturday and Sunday from 7am until 7pm.
In addition, the sheriff ordered MacPhee to pay his victim £500 in compensation at a rate of £50 per month.
Sheriff Pieri added: “This is a direct alternative to custody. If you breach any aspect you know what to expect.”
The court also imposed a fines enforcement order.
