A RHU man has been told to stay off from alcohol for a year after carrying out a vicious assault on his partner - more than six years ago.

Daniel Wood was ordered to abstain after he admitted injuring the woman by punching her on the head to her injury.

The 33-year-old carried out the attack after they returned home from the pub.

The incident happened in the autumn of 2017 but wasn't reported to police at the time.

Wood, of Arden Hill, was eventually arrested earlier this year.

Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told Wood had managed to avoid booze for almost two years 

Fiscal depute Megan Dow told the court the couple had started a relationship in 2015, which lasted about five years into 2021.

On October 13, 2017 the couple had been at a pub in the village before returning home.

The woman's brother was in another bedroom sleeping when they got back.

Wood suddenly became aggressive, leading to a verbal argument. He then clenched his right fist and punched her to the left eye, before immediately leaving the room and property.

Ms Dow said the woman went into her brother's room and was seen to be upset.

Wood was arrested in July of this year.

He returned to court on November 28 for sentencing after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to a charge of assault.

Sentence had been deferred to obtain a background report from social workers.

The offence was aggravated because the victim was Wood's partner at the time.

Wood's solicitor said: "Clearly this is a matter that was not reported right away."

Sheriff Mungo Bovey KC said the relationship appeared "toxic" and the lawyer said: "I think that's accepted.

"This is his only conviction of this nature.

"It's presented in the [social work] report that he presents minimal risk of reoffending.

"It's an unusual situation."

The sheriff noted the relationship "lasted four years after this event - it's concerning".

Wood's lawyer said: "The parties had been at the pub, both consuming alcohol - he accepts far too much alcohol.

"I think he realised there was a difficulty there. Clearly he knows it was wrong."

The court was also told Wood had been sober since 2021 and "he has no plans to consume alcohol".

Sheriff Bovey deferred sentence for 12 months for Wood to be of good behaviour. He must abstain from alcohol for that time.

"If you comply, you will be admonished," he added.

A non-harassment order was imposed protecting his ex for a year.