A KILBIRNIE man who launched a vicious assault on a woman has been jailed for eight months.

Martin Morton carried out the assault at a property in Beith on May 12 of last year.

He pulled the woman to the ground, used his body weight to keep her on the floor, and then repeatedly punched her on her head to her injury.

The 36-year-old of Boreston Avenue, pled guilty to one charge of assault to injury at a previous hearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

He returned last week and his defence solicitor Mr Seggie told the court he regretted his behaviour.

He said: “He is regretful and remorseful about his actions on that occasion. The complainer had made some comments towards him. His position is that she attacked him first but he accepts that he went over and above defending himself.

“Mr Morton is a man who can refrain from trouble, his last offence was 2014 which was dealt with by a custodial sentence but since his release has not offended again. He accepts this is very much last chance saloon.”

But Sheriff Shirley Foran was unimpressed with Morton’s long record of offending and jailed him for eight months.

She said: “Having regard to your record I am of the view that the only appropriate sentence is a custodial sentence.”