A REPEAT offender with an “unenviable record” is awaiting sentence after punching his partner, pouring bleach on to her hair and putting her in a headlock during a booze- and Valium-fuelled attack in Bourtreehill.

Paul Forbes admitted attacking the woman at a property in Kilsyth Crescent on Saturday, March 26.

On the same day, at nearby Campsie Way, Forbes also assaulted a police constable by kicking him on the arm to his injury.

Forbes, 46, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week, when his defence solicitor explained that while his client has “not been in custody for 10 years”, he has “an unenviable record”.

The solicitor told Thursday’s hearing: “He had been in a drug rehabilitation centre in Manchester, he became drug free and worked there until 2019.

“He has had a number of relapses since returning to Irvine.

“[On the night in question] he attended a party at his sister’s house. He and the complainer took alcohol and valium and both were very much worse for wear.

“The green-eyed monster came upon him and that led to him assaulting the complainer.”

The procurator fiscal depute told the court that on the night of the incident, an argument had ensued between Forbes and the woman – who had been in a relationship for around seven months.

The fiscal depute said: “At 3am on March 26 both were within the kitchen of the property and the argument again commenced.

“The accused became irate and punched her to the mouth. He then took hold of a bottle of bleach and poured it onto her hair before placing her in a headlock.

“The witness began to hit out at his face and attempted to get him off her.

“The witness left the kitchen and went to sleep to avoid further confrontation.”

Police attended the property at around 7am, when the woman was found to be in a distressed state with dried blood around her mouth.

Forbes was later placed in a police van and kicked out at an officer’s hand, causing minor bruising to the cop’s ring finger.

The witness had minor swelling to her top lip.

Forbes, of McDonald Drive, pleaded guilty to two charges - the first of which was amended to remove mention of bleach.

A plea of not guilty was accepted by the Crown to a charge of possession of heroin.

Deferring sentence until Monday, June 20 for background reports, Sheriff Colin Bissett told Forbes: “This is a very unpleasant incident and it causes me much concern.”