A MAN has been found guilty of carrying out a series of assaults over a six year period.

James Rickwood spat on the woman's face, hurled a cup of hot coffee directly at her and twice physically assaulted her to injury during a series of violent outbursts between Christmas Eve 2008 and Hogmanay 2014.

A trial at Greenock Sheriff Court was told how a neighbour heard a string of bust-ups during which a woman screamed and that Rickwood, 39, 'was the aggressor'.

He committed the offences at an address on Staffa Street, Gourock.

He admitted that there had been 'a lot of tension in the relationship' but denied the incidents and told the court: "I've got no problems controlling my temper."

The victim told the trial that there had been a meeting involving her and Rickwood's mothers during which she said he stated: "It's not you I'm hitting, it's the voices in my head."

Rickwood's mother told the trial: "I'd say Jamie is very emotional, very sensitive and he takes things to heart."

She denied that her son's ex had confided in her about the abuse and that she knew 90 per cent of what had been going on.

Rickwood had originally been facing 12 charges but this figure was reduced to four during the course of the trial.

Summing up, prosecutor Lindy Scaife said: "This is something that the complainer had been reporting to her best friend since 2008, photographing her injuries and sending her the pictures.

"Also, the neighbour is a compelling independent witness."

Sheriff Derek Hamilton found Rickwood, of Langhouse Avenue in Inverkip, guilty of the four remaining charges of shaking the victim to injury, grabbing her arms to injury, throwing a cup of hot liquid directly at her and causing her to take evasive action to avoid injury, and spitting on her face.

The sheriff said: "I didn't find Mr Rickwood to be particularly credible.

"There is ample evidence of the accused being someone who loses his temper."

The court heard how Rickwood has a previous conviction for assault dating back to 1997 and a breach of the peace with a domestic aggravation from 2005.

Sheriff Hamilton told him: "These current matters involve a number of incidents over a number of years involving the same individual."

Sentence has been deferred until July 18 for a background report.