A north-east man punched his former partner on the back of the head “repeatedly” after she slapped him in the face.
Stephen Keith appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted assaulting Karen Cole at a property in Bridge of Don.
The court heard the 37-year-old had been visiting his son when the incident took place on September 12.
Yesterday his actions were branded “disgraceful” by Sheriff Malcolm Garden.
The court heard the pair had been in a relationship for six years before separating in 2015, and have a four-year-old son.
The court heard that Keith appeared to be under the influence of drugs when he arrived at 6pm, and admitted “smoking a joint”.
The fiscal said Miss Cole went out to “further challenge him on his drug use” and slapped him lightly across the face.
However in response, the court heard he repeatedly punched her to the back of the head.
Defence agent Iain Hingston said it had been “quite a disgraceful display” by Keith, of Muirfield Road, Aberdeen.
He added: “He’d be the first to recognise that. Of the little slap referenced, he says it was something more, but of course it didn’t in anyway justify what subsequently happened.
“The report makes it clear by and large this is someone who can behave and stay out of trouble.”
Sheriff Garden agreed it had been “disgraceful behaviour”.
He sentenced him to 70 hours unpaid work and a 10 month supervision requirement.
