A toxic on-off relationship erupted into a vicious attack when a man punched his partner to the ground, pulled her back up by her hair and headbutted her.
Archie Ritchie, 30, left the woman “screaming in pain” and needing six stitches to her face after a “minor argument” during a night in turned violent.
The incident at an address in Conon Bridge followed an evening of drinking, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
Richie had previously appeared in court and pled guilty to charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and assault to injury with a domestic abuse aggravation.
His defence solicitor later said that the now-separated couple “simply shouldn’t be together”.
Accused called victim s*** and w****
The court heard that the ordeal unfolded on Sunday October 3 last year as the couple prepared to enjoy a Chinese takeaway at home together.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke explained that the accused and his victim had been in an on-off relationship for three years.
“As they were putting the food out, the accused began bringing up past memories in relation to them having split.
“He became verbally abusive towards her, calling her a s*** and a w****,” Ms Poke said.
Ritchie then punched the woman’s eye, causing her to fall to the floor, before seizing her by the hair, pulling her head up towards him and headbutting her.
“Throughout this time, he continued to be verbally abusive towards her, calling her names,” Ms Poke added.
Woman needed stitches
The wounded woman was “screaming in pain” and she was taken for treatment at a hospital’s accident and emergency department.
Among her injuries was a cut to her forehead which required six stitches, the court was told.
Richie’s solicitor David Paterson said that both parties had consumed alcohol in “quite a vast quantity” on the evening of the attack.
Mr Paterson explained that the incident had started as a “minor argument” before it “erupted”.
“He accepts that the relationship itself was toxic. They are a couple who simply shouldn’t be together,” he said.
‘Very serious offence’
Sheriff Robert Frazer told Ritchie, of Simpson Place in Dingwall: “You have pled guilty to what is considered to be a very serious offence indeed”.
The sheriff sentenced Richie to a community payback order with two years of supervision.
He was also handed 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered to pay his victim compensation of £800.