Thug with 'no recollection' of twice attacking a young mum in her own home has been jailed

Graeme Shanks repeatedly punched the woman about her head and body in a drink-fuelled 2am aattack.

Nearly six hours later he woke up and seized her neck with both of his hands and pinned her against a wall.

Shanks, 26 — who was last year convicted of assaulting his sister to injury — may also have been intoxicated on drugs when he committed his latest offences.

Greenock Sheriff Court heard how the woman asked Shanks to leave her house, where his two brothers were also present, because he was drinking to excess.

Prosecutor Amy Spencer said: "The accused and the complainer were in an on-off relationship for approximately six years and he resides elsewhere.

"He refused to leave and continued drinking.

"The complainer went to bed and at 2am she was woken by banging noises within her home.

"The accused began to shout and swear at her, followed her to her room and proceeded to assault the complainer her.

"He was forcibly removed from the bedroom by his brother."

Fiscal depute Miss Spencer added: "He then fell asleep, as did the complainer.

"She woke at 7.40am and was getting ready for work.

"At this time the accused proceeded to grab her neck with both of his hands and pinned her against a wall.

"His brother removed him from the locus."

The court heard how the woman was left 'distressed and crying' and police later took photos of her face and arms.

Shanks has another previous conviction for a domestically aggravated breach of the Communications Act.

He committed his latest offences on May 11.

His not guilty plea to a charge of making abusive comments, behaving aggressively and pursuing the woman were accepted.

Defence lawyer Derek Buchanan said: "He appreciates that he has very much placed his liberty in jeopardy.

"He genuinely doesn't appear to have any recollection of events.

"There has an underlying issue, principally with alcohol for a considerable period of time."

Mr Buchanan suggested supervision, unpaid work and enforced alcohol treatment as a direct alternative to prison.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre told Shanks, of Oronsay Avenue in Port Glasgow: "Alcohol is plainly a problem for you and it has caused you to lose all recollection, and all control.

"You assaulted your partner twice and it would be quite wrong of me not to impose a prison sentence."

Shanks was jailed for six months, reduced from nine months due to his guilty pleas.

Sheriff McIntyre imposed a two-year non-harassment order preventing Shanks from approaching or contacting the woman, or attempting to do so, in any way and barring him from going to her home.