OFFENDER JOHN CONN HANDED TWO-YEAR PROBATION AFTER ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND
A THUG repeatedly beat his girlfriend after she refused to have sex with him.John Conn had spent all night playing computer games before going to bed at 7am.
He then went on to wake his girlfriend to demand sex and when she refused Conn started punching her on the right side of her face.
During the savage assault her nose began to bleed but vicious Conn continued hitting her.
Rhona Baird, prosecuting, told Dumbarton Sheriff Court that Conn then went to sleep and the woman then left their apartment to get treatment at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
At this point police became involved and went to the house and arrested Conn for the assault on April 19 this year in Alexandria.
During a taped interview at Dumbarton police station Conn, 22, admitted an argument had taken place with his girlfriend and said that he had suffered from depression.
His girlfriend was taken to Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital where she received treatment for bruising to her chin and her face.
At a previous appearance at court, Conn - who had once been given an absolute discharge for domestic assault - admitted repeatedly punching the girl on her head to her injury.
Pat Fordyce, defending, said that Conn 'had difficulties' in his life and this 'worrying incident could not be treated lightly'.
He submitted that by enforcing a period of probation it would make sure that Conn 'didn't do this sort of thing again' and said he was unlikely to.
Mr Fordyce added that the couple were keen to resume their three-year relationship and passed on a letter from the victim for Sheriff Simon Fraser to read.
However, when sentencing Sheriff Fraser said that Conn was on the verge of a custodial sentence.
He said: 'I see that in the past Mr Conn you got an absolute discharge for domestic assault - you will never get one of these again.
No doubt the court gave it [to you] because it was told in one way or another that the chances of you doing it again were remote.
Well you have done it again and this time it is serious.
I can assure you if you do it once more, you will end up in Greenock and not just for a day out, but in Gateside Prison.' Conn, whose address was given as c/o 13 Hawthornhill Road, Castlehill, was ordered to complete a two-year probation order.
An added condition was that he seek psychiatric treatment for the first 12 months.
