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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lanarkshire Live

Woman punched and kicked in Lanarkshire street after complaining about dog biting her partner

A woman was beaten up by two men in a Motherwell street after complaining that her partner had been bitten by a dog.

She was knocked to the ground twice and suffered a head wound that required hospital treatment.

John O'Rourke, 56, of Alexander Path, Motherwell, and William McConnell, 51, of Etna Street, Pather, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

They admitted assaulting the woman in Alexander Path on August 28, 2020.

McConnell also admitted threatening or abusive behaviour towards police officers.

The court heard a dog owned by O'Rourke's son had bitten the woman's partner and a confrontation took place. The assault was captured on CCTV.

Chloe O'Hara, prosecuting, said: "The men approached [the victim] and McConnell pushed her to the ground.

"O'Rourke then kicked her while she was on the ground.

"She got up and a struggle ensued before McConnell punched her and she was again knocked to the ground.

"[The woman] got back to her feet a second time and O'Rourke threw an object that struck her.

"Police officers attended in relation to another matter and saw her bleeding from an injury to the back of her head.

"She was taken to hospital where the cut was glued."

When McConnell was arrested he "became hostile" and threatened to spit on officers.

He warned, 'you are getting a face full of spit and HIV. One chance and I'll break your nose'.

Defence agent Stephen MacBride, representing O'Rourke, said the woman had confronted his client over the dog biting incident.

A missile was then thrown at John O'Rourke's window and when he went outside to investigate an argument began.

Tom Watters, representing McConnell, claimed he became involved because a number of men were acting aggressively towards his friend O'Rourke.

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen deferred sentence on both accused until August 19 for background reports.

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