A man who beat his girlfriend unconscious and then dragged her along a snowy street has been jailed.
John Duncan lashed out at Donna Davidson in a drug-fuelled attack at his home in Huntly earlier this year.
The 29-year-old viciously kicked this girlfriend before punching her to the head, knocking her out.
Fuelled up on Valium, he then dragged Miss Davidson – who was only wearing her pyjamas – outside and into the snow.
He dragged his victim along the street by her ankles, and when she regained consciousness he straddled her and pinned her arms to the ground so she could not move.
Shocked neighbours – who heard Miss Davidson’s cries for help – alerted the police.
Duncan, who previously admitted the assault, was jailed for a year when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Fiscal depute Siama Rasheed said the couple – who have since reconciled and are planning a new life together in Moray – had been arguing the night before the attack and had not resolved their issues.
She said: “Witnesses heard the Miss Davidson screaming and looked outside their properties.
“She stated that she had been punched and kicked and had been rendered unconscious.
“She was dragged outside where she regained consciousness.
“She was dragged by her ankles along the grass area and was only wearing pyjamas.”
Mrs Rasheed said that when police arrived they said it had been snowing so heavily it had covered up their tracks.
When officers arrested Duncan and took him to Elgin police office he then proceeded to spit at an officer who was closing his cell door.
Representing the repeat offender, solicitor Alex Burn said Duncan, of 9 Jake Forbes Close, Huntly, had “little recollection” of the January 10 incident.
He said the couple had now reconciled and were planning to move in together to Miss Davidson’s home in Elgin.
Mr Burn blamed Duncan’s peer group for his drug-taking, and said he hoped if his client moved to Moray he would be able to have a fresh start.
But Sheriff Annella Cowan said that such a sustained and violent attack on his partner meant there was no alternative to jail.