A Paisley man who had been in a relationship with a woman for a mere four days punched her tooth out after an argument on “relationship issues.”
Gary McGuinness and Meghan Cherrie had been in a relationship through their “shared interest in both alcohol and drugs” when he punched her face, knocking her to the ground, and then kicked her whilst she lay on the pavement.
Passers-by had to get out of their vehicle to prevent McGuinness, 27, from attacking Ms Cherrie any further.
Brute McGuinness appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court via video link and admitted he assaulted his partner on June 5 last year in Paisley.
Procurator fiscal David McDonald explained that Ms Cherrie and McGuinness had been in a relationship for just four days at the time of the incident.
Mr McDonald told the Court: “On June 5, Meghan Cherrie and McGuinness spent the day in his home address.
“Around 6pm, Ms Cherrie’s younger sister attended to visit and she spent the evening with them both.
“The 16-year-old sister was not drinking but explained both Meghan and the accused were intoxicated by both drink and drugs throughout the evening.
“Around 11pm, McGuinness and Meghan had an argument over relationship issues.
“Both Meghan and her sister left the flat when they were asked to do so by McGuinness.
“As the two girls walked on to Waverley Road with its junction at Amochrie Road, the accused followed to speak to Meghan.
“She told him the relationship was over and he repeatedly punched her face causing her to fall to the ground.
“As she landed, Meghan noticed her tooth had been knocked out and as she lay on the ground, he kicked her body.
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“Meghan’s sister tried to intervene and members of the public stopped their cars to try and intervene.
“As a result of the members of the public intervening, McGuinness made off towards his flat and police were contacted.
“Police arrived around 11.30pm and Meghan was taken to hospital for assessment and her tooth was seized.
“Meghan was treated at hospital and it was noted she had a front incisor missing which required cosmetic surgery.
“The accused was traced, arrested and while en-route to Govan police station he stated, ‘I didn’t hit my burd.’”
Defence agent Mr McPartland told the court McGuinness accepts the relationship is over and that he has “ongoing addiction issues.”
He told the court: “McGuinness has had addiction issues for a number of years with both drink and drugs.
“He started drinking at a very young age and taking low level drugs, but this graduated onto harder drugs such as Valium, cocaine and heroin.
“Despite numerous attempts to refrain, none have been successful.
“This was a very short-term relationship due to a shared interest to both alcohol and drugs.
“He is ashamed of this and despite his record, he has never hit a woman prior to this.”
Sheriff Gillian Craig said: “Drinks and drugs are no excuse for poor behaviour. This was a particularly nasty assault.”
Sheriff Craig sentenced McGuinness to 21 months in custody and imposed a non-harassment order for two years preventing him from contacting Meghan Cherrie.
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