A man who tried to have a tickle fight with his partner – while she was asleep – grabbed her around the throat after she woke up and kicked him in the face.
Craig Hoggan, aged 49, and his partner of 13 years, Leigh Cassidy, had downed six bottles of wine between them when he tried to catch her by surprise.
But she awoke angrily, an argument ensued and he seized her by the neck and hit her in the head at their home on May 2.
Depute fiscal Colin Neilson told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “They were at home and had been drinking.
“While she was asleep, he attempted to tickle her, causing her to wake up and kick out. Following that, an argument ensued. The accused took hold of her by the neck.
“The [ensuing] injuries resulted in Miss Cassidy suffering scratches to her left eye. She did not require treatment.”
Hoggan, of Rhynie, Huntly, pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner.
Defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt said: “He is a self-employed stonemason. This was an argument which got out of hand.
“He called the police himself because he was concerned that matters had escalated. During his subsequent interview, he told police what happened as far as he could remember.
“He knew that it was unacceptable behaviour. The relationship between them continues. This was out of character.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan fined him £400.
