A man was found in possession of a shotgun cartridge after being arrested for assaulting his girlfriend at a flat in Aberdeen.
James Knowles admitted two offences when he appeared at the city’s sheriff court for sentencing yesterday.
The 41-yer-old accepted a charge of assaulting Karen McMahon in a Baker Street property on September 9 last year by “seizing her by the throat, punching her on the face and pushing her, all to her injury”.
He also admitted breaking the conditions imposed upon him by Corby Magistrates Court, in Northamptonshire, in 2015 when he was discovered to be carrying a shotgun cartridge.
Fiscal, Kelly Mitchell, explained that the accused and Ms McMahon had been drinking when he lost his temper and lashed out.
She said: “The accused was acting aggressively and shouting about not being able to find his mobile phone.
“Neighbours could hear the disturbance, and Knowles grabbed Ms McMahon by her throat and punched her to the face.
“When police arrived they noticed she had cuts on her face.”
The court heard that Knowles was later traced in Coopers Bar, on John Street, and taken in for questioning.
The fiscal added that the shotgun ammunition was discovered during a subsequent police search.
Defence agent, Bob Anderson, said his client only recently arrived in Aberdeen to work on a restoration project on Union Street, and had a problem with binge drinking,
Mr Anderson said: “He does drink to excess when given the opportunity, and that leads him to act inappropriately.”
Knowles, of Raeden Crescent in Aberdeen, was ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid work and to remain under supervision for two years.
