AN ex-soldier who headbutted his lover after complaining about a chicken Kiev dinner she made has avoided jail.

Scott Howell, 32, flew into a rage the day after moaning Michelle Mundt, 32, had undercooked the dish.

Violent Howell headbutted her, leaving her with a lump “the size of an egg.”

Howell, from Greenock, Inverclyde pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Miss Mundt on March 18 at their Drumchapel home.

He also admitted spitting on PC Donna Airlie and having a knuckle duster on him when searched by police.

Howell - who is understood to have left the army last year - also admitted a breaching bail condition, the day it was imposed.

He was told not not to go into the street they lived on, but was found in the garden later that day, on March 19.

He claimed he had returned home for a wallet and other items.

The brute returned to the dock on Friday where sheriff Margaret Liddell handed him a year-long community payback order with the condition he is supervised in the community.

She also granted a two-year non-harassment order preventing Howell from approaching or contacting Miss Mundt in any way.

In 2015, Howell was convicted of terrorising ex girlfriend Emma Barlow by telling her to commit suicide and threatening to kill her.

It was previously reported how he had admitted bombarding Miss Barlow with disturbing calls and texts, including one which read: “Top yourself and do the world a favour.”

Another chilling message said, “I’m telling you, I’m on my way back up and I will kill – maybe not today, but one day.”

He was handed a £450 fine at Paisley Sheriff Court, and banned from approaching or contacting his victim for six months.