A Moray man has admitted knocking his wife unconscious after getting drunk – before falling asleep in the chair.
Graham Legg had been drinking for hours while working in the garden of his home near Aberlour when he lashed out.
Yesterday, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards Catriona Legg when he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court.
The 56-year-old swore and “uttered offensive remarks” referring to his partner’s English nationality before punching her in the head.
Fiscal Alison Wylie said: “On the day in question, the accused was doing jobs in his garden, and had been drinking since about 11am.
“When his daughter came home from work at 4pm, she could see he seemed to be staggering about.”
The court heard that Legg’s daughter later went upstairs, but heard a “loud crashing noise” coming from the kitchen shortly after 6pm and raced down to see what had caused it.
The fiscal added: “Legg could he heard calling his wife ‘fat’, ‘useless’ and ‘English’.
“There was a struggle between the two of them, and the couple’s daughter tried to pull the accused away from her mother without success.
“Legg continued shouting and swearing and punched the complainer to the face, causing her to lose consciousness and fall over.”
Police officers and paramedics were called to the scene, where they found Mrs Legg in a “distressed” state – and her husband asleep in a chair.
Ambulance crews treated the victim for a burst lip, before deciding she did not need to be taken to hospital.
Legg’s defence solicitor, Matthew O’Neill, said his client was “ashamed” of the way he had acted on September 25.
He said: “Regrettably, my client has very little recollection of the incident.
“It was a nice day, and he had been out in the garden, but he accepts that he had been consuming spirits.
“He can’t explain why he has acted in this manner, and is embarrassed and ashamed of himself.”
Legg, whose address was given in court papers as Tomnabent, has since separated from his wife.
Sentence was deferred until Thursday, December 15. Legg, in the meantime, was told to stay out of trouble and away from his wife.
