A DUNFERMLINE man who carried out a "sustained and brutal" Valentine's Day attack on his ex partner has been jailed for six months.

Iain Macleod (20), of Abel Place, subjected his victim to an assault during which he twice put his hands around her neck and squeezed.

He appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday after admitting that on February 14, he assaulted his then partner by repeatedly pushing her, causing her to fall onto a bed and sofa, repeatedly seizing her by the throat and compressing it and repeatedly punching her on the head and body to her injury.

Depute Fiscal Dev Kapadia said Macleod had been in a relationship with the woman for around eight months.

The relationship had been good until a few weeks prior when he said he had some personal issues which she had agreed to support.

An argument led to Macleod leaving the house and returning later after drinking alcohol.

The argument continued and he then attacked her.

After eventually breaking free by biting him, she escaped to the living room where he threw her over a sofa and attempted to choke her again.

He punched her to the body and later punched her on the head and ears.

The woman suffered bleeding inside her ear, bruising and swelling to her left eye, a swollen cheek, two chipped teeth and a loose upper tooth. She had scratches on her chin, red marks to her stomach, slight swelling on her head and bruising on her nose.

Defence solicitor Danielle Varella said at the time of the incident, her client was in a vulnerable and confused state of mind.

"He left to try and gather his thoughts and it is unfortunate at that stage that he decided to consume alcohol," she said. "It was the first time he had taken alcohol in a number of months because he recognised he had difficulties.

"He has very little recollection of this altercation. The red mist descended and he cannot remember much about this incident. He was distressed when he heard the details."

Ms Varella said the ex partner remained a supportive factor in his life. "She is making efforts to forgive him but he is not at a stage where he can forgive himself for his conduct – he is a long way from that.

"He is disgusted by his actions but glad the complainer remains in his life."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said it was a "sustained and brutal attack" carried out when Macleod was under the influence of a significant amount of alcohol.

"That is not mitigation," he told him. "You twice put your hands around her throat and squeezed. Squeezing on one's throat can have disastrous consequences. You punched her, you pushed her and this assault seems to have taken a significant time.

"I am conscious that it appears your ex partner is still supportive. The fact remains this was a sustained and brutal attack upon your then partner and domestic violence has to be sentenced in the same way as any other violence.

"Having regard to the serious nature of this assault, I am satisfied that only a custodial sentence is appropriate."