IRVINE MAN JAILED FOR KNIFE ATTACK ON EX-PARTNER
A JEALOUS thug who assaulted his ex-partner 'to the danger of her life' has been jailed.Thomas Gardner grabbed the woman by her throat, pushed and kicked her, and struck her in the head with a knife following an argument within a property in Irvine.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of assault, committed on March 16 last year, when he appeared in the dock at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.
The incident took place at around 9pm that evening when the 31-year-old was within the living room of his former girlfriend's home, alongside her sister and sister's boyfriend.
Prosecutor Fraser Alexander stated that, throughout the course of the evening, Gardner suspected that the complainant 'had a liking for the other male present'.
An argument between the pair then escalated to the point where he seized the victim by the throat and pushed her back onto the couch.
The woman briefly returned to her feet before Gardner shoved her to the ground and started repeatedly kicking her on the head.
The prosecutor added: 'He then produced a kitchen knife and repeatedly struck the complainer to the back of the head with the item.' It was noted to the court that Gardner hit her with 'the whole weapon' rather than using the point of the blade.
The assault prompted both the complainer's sister and her partner to intervene - with her sibling doing so physically by hitting Gardner with a radiator cover.
She also advised the attacker that she would be contacting the police, which prompted him to retrieve a basin of water and cloth from the kitchen and attempt to clean the blood from his ex's head.
Officers arrived while Gardner and the complainer's sister were both still within the premises.
Police were allowed entry and immediately observed the complainer to be injured and covered in blood, coming from the back of her head, and a cut on the bridge of her nose was also bleeding.
Gardner was then pointed out as responsible for causing the injuries by the complainer’s sister.
He was arrested and taken to Saltcoats police station.
Once at the station, Gardner was cautioned and charged, to which he replied 'f**k off'.
He appeared in court to face charges two days later and has been remanded in custody since.
The court was told that his ex refused any medical treatment despite her injuries.
Defending, solicitor Paul Gallagher explained Gardner and the complainer had been in an on-off relationship for seven years.
Mr Gallagher said: 'He is someone who fell back into his old ways.
He had consumed large volumes of alcohol and cocaine to excess on the day in question.
He has very little recollection of events.
In the clear light of day, sober and having spent a lengthy period in remand he regrets his behaviour.
He is ashamed of it.
There is only one option available to the court today given the gravity of matters.' Sheriff Colin Bissett stated: 'The charge to which you have pleaded guilty is serious.
It involves a completely unprovoked attack that involves the use of a knife.' He sentenced Gardner to 24 months in prison, backdated to his initial remand on March 18 last year.
A non-harassment order was also established, banning him from approaching, contacting, or attempting to do either with his ex-partner for two years, and not to enter the street of her home in Irvine for the same period.
