Hatchet-wielding thug battered his girlfriend — then told police she did it to herself

Stephen Bonnar — who has three previous convictions for assault to injury — is today behind bars awaiting a court-ordered assessment of the danger he poses to the public.

Bonnar, 31, also has four knife-carrying offences on his 'significant' criminal record, Greenock Sheriff Court was told after be pleaded guilty to attacking the woman in a fit of rage.

The victim was found weeping by police and with cuts near her left eye, on her left knee and behind one of her ears after Bonnar had fled from her trashed flat in the town.

Prosecutor Emma Jeffrey told how the pair had contacted each other through Facebook before the woman offered Bonnar a place to stay due to his own front door being damaged.

The fiscal depute said: "They began a casual relationship. An argument began over money and drugs.

"Matters escalated and the accused grabbed the complainer by the hair and threw her to the ground and struck her while she was on the ground.

"She looked up and saw the accused brandishing a hatchet."

Bonnar was charged with striking the woman on her head with the mini axe and throwing her against a fireplace but this was removed from the indictment as part of a negotiated guilty plea brokered with defence lawyer Aidan Gallagher.

A neighbour alerted police to the violent disturbance after the victim made her way out to the common close and cried out, 'Phone them, phone them!'.

Mirrors and picture frames within her home had been smashed and cushions strewn on the floor.

Bonnar was arrested around three hours after the 4am incident after officers on patrol at Prospecthill Street spotted him.

When he was cautioned and charged he stated: "She's a self harmer — she's done it to herself."

Solicitor Mr Gallagher said: "The complainer began to ingest controlled substances, cocaine in particular.

"Mr Bonnar did not partake and he voiced his concerns about what she was doing.

"Matters escalated to the point where there was an argument and the Crown would concede that it was not one-way traffic — the complainer was not passive."

Mr Gallagher added: "The hatchet was the complainer's and it happened to be in the living room.

"He accepts that he has picked it up. He did not intend to use it. He brandished it, although it is accepted that would be frightening enough for the complainer.

"Her injuries were relatively minor and she declined medical treatment.

"The injuries sustained can be described as towards the lower end of the scale."

Bonnar admitted grabbing the woman by her hair, dragging her to the floor, repeatedly striking her on the head and body and brandishing a hatchet all to her injury.

He committed the offence on August 24 last year.

His not guilty pleas to charges of assaulting her, verbally abusing her and threatening violence on August 9 were accepted.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told Bonnar: "You have a significant criminal record and this is a very serious criminal offence.

"I have to consider the extent to which you pose a risk of serious harm to the public.

"I want to consider whether a supervised release order should take effect on your release from prison.

"Therefore, before selecting the period of imprisonment, I will obtain a report as to the merits of such an order on your eventual release from prison."

The case is due to call again on March 13 when Sheriff McIntyre will also consider a Crown motion for a non-harassment order.