A north-east man who left his partner permanently scarred during an argument about money has been spared jail.
Martin Macdonald had been in a relationship with Lisamarie Kirkwood for five years, but this came to a dramatic end after a disagreement last November.
During an argument in the bedroom of their home in Oldcroft Place in Aberdeen, he punched her and headbutted her in the face.
They then moved into the living room where she opened a window and shouted to a neighbour to get the police.
She was later found bleeding with a cut above her right eye.
Macdonald left the home, but was traced by the police around three hours later.
The 39-year-old told the arresting officers he had been attacked and had done nothing wrong.
Macdonald, of Merkland Road East in Aberdeen, confessed to the assault at an earlier date and returned to the city’s sheriff court yesterday to be sentenced.
Fiscal depute Stephanie Ross described the impact of the assault on Ms Kirkwood.
She said: “She was left with a three centimetre laceration below her right eyebrow.
“Her right eye is still swollen when she wakes up in the morning.”
Representing Macdonald, defence agent Tony Burgess said: “He accepts he assaulted her and committed this offence.”
He added that his client was prepared to be sent to prison, but said there was a “suitable alternative” to this.
Imposing a sentence, Sheriff Jack Brown said: “You punched her and headbutted her, causing a permanent scar.
“For this reason, it seems to me you should be sent to custody but I have to be satisfied there is no alternative to that.
“It seems to me there is just a suitable alternative.”
He added: “You should be appalled and ashamed at your behaviour.”
He placed him under supervision for two years, ordered him to take part in the Caledonian Programme and carry out 225 hours of unpaid work.