A DREGHORN man who repeatedly nipped his partner after an argument over food must perform unpaid work.

Jamie Bruce, of Ford Avenue, assaulted the woman in front of an 18-month-old child on April 26 in Irvine’s Gigha Place.

He also admitted breaching his bail conditions a day later by contacting the woman.

The 29-year-old was within his home at around 5pm on the date in question, Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard last week, before an argument started between the couple.

Bruce took hold of the woman’s hand and started to nip her.

She began to shout at him to stop but Bruce held her legs down as she tried to get away.

The woman began to cry as Bruce continued to nip her legs before he took the child out to the hallway, closing the door on the woman’s face.

After she stopped crying, the woman left the home and went to a friend’s house before contacting the police.

Appearing from custody, Bruce pleaded guilty to the offences at court last week.

Alex Muir, defending, said Bruce and his partner have been together for around six years and the quarrel was a “silly dispute” about what they were having for dinner.

Presiding Sheriff Iona McDonald disagreed with Mr Muir’s insistence that the argument was “not the worse” and voiced her concern about a child being present.

Bruce found himself in custody after breaching his bail conditions.

Mr Muir said: “It is my understanding that the relationship can continue and that he has learned a lesson and has been affected by the period in custody.” 

Bruce was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work and six months of supervision.