A woman suffered severe injuries including four broken ribs after being attacked by her partner in Rosyth.

The victim feared she was going to die as she was kicked, punched and choked during the ordeal.

The assailant was 28-year-old first offender Christopher Maxwell, of Meadowfield, Cowdenbeath, who has been jailed for the brutal violence he inflicted.

Maxwell appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing having admitted committing the offence on February 5 at a property in Rosyth.

He assaulted his partner by kicking her on the body, repeatedly punching her on the head and body, then placed both hands around her neck, compressing it, all to her severe injury.

The couple had been on a night out in Dunfermline before the attack when they returned to her home in Rosyth. Maxwell had thrown down a £5 note and told the woman to get some help, the court was told.

The victim ran to her mother’s home and was taken to hospital.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: “He had consumed alcohol and there was a loss of control. He’s at a loss to explain what happened. He’s never shied for taking responsibility for what he did and is extremely remorseful.”

The couple had been in an eight-year relationship.

Sheriff Susan Duff told Maxwell: “This was a ferocious attack. She thought she was going to die. You broke four of her ribs and she was covered in cuts and bruises.”

She jailed Maxwell for 16 months and imposed a two-year non-harassment order.