AN ALLOA man who assaulted his former partner in front of young children has been jailed for nine months.

Sean Paterson pleaded guilty in December to attacking the woman, stalking her and breaking bail conditions to stay away from her.

The 34-year-old also admitted three separate breaches of a community payback order, handed to him previously.

The first assault took place between October and December of 2016 at Gean Road, Alloa, when the complainer and accused were at home with children also in the address.

Fiscal depute Lindsay Brooks, told Alloa Sheriff Court last Thursday: “She became aware that he was getting messages from an ex-partner. She took the phone, he then lunged at her and grabbed her throat with one hand. She could not breathe.”

The second charge took place between September 15 and October 24, 2017 at Menstrie Road, Tullibody.

The two parties had split up but the accused wished to reconcile, though the complainer did not. He then engaged a course of conduct which caused fear and alarm to the complainer.

Ms Brooks said: “[He sent] lots of messages, videos and calls saying he was going to kill himself. He sent pictures of self-harm to her. On October 2 she received 30 phone calls. She contacted police on October 6 to report it.”

The third charge relates to a breach of a special condition from the second charge in that Paterson attempted to contact the complainer through several means when prohibited.

Paterson, of Maple Court, also appeared after breaching a court order given in sentencing for other convictions.

The first of those relates to an incident which took place at Chalmers, Alloa, on November 6, where he assaulted a woman by punching her on the head and seizing hold of and pulling her.

An allegation of following her was dropped from that original charge.

Later on that month on November 26 at Ochil Street, Alloa, Paterson assaulted his mother by seizing her on the body, pulling her to the floor before pinning her to the ground. As part of his guilty plea an allegation that he seized her neck and restricted her breathing was removed from the charge.

Also removed from the charge was a section which stated he assaulted his father by throwing a knife which struck him on the head.

His final charge, from April 2, 2017, states that at Ladywell Drive, Tullibody, Paterson seized his former partner by the hair, bit her on the head and headbutted her. A section which states he placed his hands round and compressed her neck was removed.

His lawyer, Claire McCarron, told the court that Paterson had “some difficulties in seeing the seriousness of these offences,” and said he had “attitudes and behaviours which need addressing”.

After going off the bench to consider his sentence, Sheriff David Mackie said: “You are a danger to women and a danger to anyone who drinks with you.”

He was sentenced to a total of nine months in prison and will be supervised for two years after he is released.