A violent thug who broke every bone in his girlfriend’s face has been caged for nearly five years.
Cowardly James McGarry, 24, battered his partner Michelle McCormack until she was “unrecognisable” after a night out.
He was jailed at the High Court for four years and eight months over the shocking assault, which took place in December last year.
Police Scotland last night welcomed the sentence and praised Ms McCormack for her bravery.
Chief Inspector Rhona Fraser, area commander of Renfrew, Johnstone, and the villages, said: “This was a particularly horrific domestic assault which left the victim with life-changing injuries.
“The abuse Ms McCormack suffered at the hands of her attacker was completely unacceptable.
“I welcome the significant sentence handed down to James McGarry at the High Court this week.
“I would also like to pay tribute to Ms McCormack who has conducted herself with the utmost dignity throughout this horrific ordeal.
“If you have been the victim of domestic violence please come forward to police. We will always listen to you and we will always investigate fully and you will be supported throughout.”
A judge previously heard how Ms McCormack was “unrecognisable” after the attack.
McGarry, of Renfrew, later lied to ambulance staff that his bloodsoaked partner had accidentally fallen.
The attack happened at Ms McCormack’s flat in Linwood after the couple had been at a local bar, where McGarry got drunk downing cocktails.
The mum recalled being repeatedly punched – her next memory was being treated at hospital.
The court heard McGarry, meantime, contacted a friend via Facebook.
He mentioned Ms McCormack’s name, adding: “She is unrecognisable. I have done her in.”
It was the friend who dialled 999 and paramedics arrived to find McGarry outside the flat covered in blood.
He insisted his girlfriend was hurt after an accident and that he had been “cuddling” her.
Ms Dalziel said: “He told paramedics she had hit her head on drawers and fell face first.”
Judge Lord Mulholland stated at that point during the hearing: “All that was a lie. He was responsible.”
The court heard her face was horrifically bruised and swollen, with her eyes closed shut. She also had injuries to her skull, hands and rib.
Ms Dalziel added: “She had fractures in all areas of her face top to bottom, left to right.”
This included both her top and bottom jaw being “displaced”.
She needed “complex” surgery and was placed in a high dependency unit.
There were concerns about her breathing as her tongue and mouth became badly swollen.
She was later able to leave hospital, but it is not known if Ms McCormack will make a full recovery.
Medics concluded it would have needed “significant” force to cause her injuries.
