An Ayrshire toyboy who attacked his girlfriend then continued to meet the lady was caged – after the Syrian civil war survivor was taken on a trip down South to meet a friend.

Zaher Hamsho, 20, admitted assaulting and injuring his girlfriend after grabbing the woman’s throat during an attack in her home in Stevenston over August 23 and August 24 last year, after he previously dodged jail for assaulting the same partner.

Hamsho, previously of Dickson Drive, Irvine and recently New England Road, Saltcoats, also admitted two charges of breaching strict court orders not to meet the woman, after she took him on a trip down to Rotherham on April 28 this year then at her home the next day on April 29, 2021.

When he returned to court for sentencing, Hamsho was also given a two year non-harassment order forbidding any contact with the woman – despite protests that she was still in love with the offender.

The Procurator Fiscal told the court: “They attended the house for a surprise visit to a friend. Mr Hamsho was introduced to the friend as her boyfriend and they remained for 45 minutes before they left and returned to Scotland.

“As a result, police attended her home address in Hayocks Road, Stevenston. They traced her safe and well. Mr Hamsho was not within the locus. Police attempted, but she refused to provide a statement.

“CCTV from a neighbour at 1.50pm showed she left with Mr Hamsho in a motor vehicle towards Ardeer before she returned alone.”

Defence solicitor Gordon Ghee urged Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane to consider Hamsho’s guilty pleas, telling the court the relationship was complex, adding they had an “absolute fixation on one another”.

He said: “There has been examples of photos sent to him in custody declaring undying love for him”, adding that “she was asked to leave my office my lady”. There’s positives from the report and he has engaged well with discussions on relationships. It’s difficult to suggest what to do, it looks as if they will get back together.

“She made the complaint and almost immediately tried to withdraw it.”

Telling Hamsho to stand up, Sheriff McFarlane said: “It never ceases to amaze me that women in this jurisdiction – as well as outwith this jurisdiction – how they tolerate abusive behaviour.

"You have treated the complainer abominably, not just once, twice, but three times. So you are going to prison.”

She sentenced Hamsho to 18 months in custody for the assault and six months for continuing to meet the woman, to be served consecutively totalling two years.

He was also given a two-year non harassment order preventing contact with her.

We previously reported how Hamsho, who used to reside in Irvine’s Dickson Drive and originally from Syria , was placed on an 18-month Community Payback Order for smashing up his partner’s home and assaulting her.

He was also given140 hours’ unpaid work – and was warned he would be caged if he breached the order.