A YOB who battered his partner and left her mum scarred for life by hitting her with a baby gate has been spared jail.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how Kevin McCann left both Linzi Ramsay, 27, and 60-year-old Christine Walker covered in blood.

Mrs Walker suffered a 12cm wound which will leave a permanent scar.

Violence flared after 31-year-old McCann and Ms Ramsay headed out on June 11 last year while Mrs Walker looked after their two children.

Once the couple returned to the flat in Rowan Street, Paisley, a violent argument took place.

Last month, McCann admitted his guilt over the assaults, striking a deal with prosecutors which saw him plead guilty to two reduced charges.

He admitted assaulting Ms Ramsay and leaving her injured by raining kicks and punches on her body.

And he admitted assaulting Mrs Walker by punching her on the head and body and hitting her with the baby gate, leaving her badly hurt and scarred for life.

Charges that he failed to appear for an identity parade and failed to appear at court, as well as claims that he had left Ms Ramsay scarred for life, thrown Mrs Walker to the ground and rained kicks on her were dropped.

Procurator fiscal depute Keri Marshall told the court both McCann and Ms Ramsay were “heavily intoxicated” when they arrived home from their night out.

A short time later, Mrs Walker heard sounds of a disturbance coming from the bedroom.

It was stated that McCann punched and kicked Ms Ramsay.

Mrs Walker went to the kitchen, followed by her daughter, to phone the police but McCann chased after them and lashed out.

The court was told McCann ripped a baby gate from the kitchen door and threw it at Mrs Walker, leaving her with a deep cut on her right leg.

He then fled the scene.

Defence solicitor Gordon Ritchie said the attacks made McCann, who runs his own painting and decorating business, realise he had an alcohol problem - and prompted him to become sober.

Sheriff Robert Fife had called for background reports ahead of sentencing.

And when McCann returned to the dock on Monday to learn his fate, Sheriff Fife spared him jail.

As he placed him on a Community Payback Order which will see him supervised by social workers for two years and carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, Sheriff Fife told him: “If you don’t do it, you’ll go to prison for 15 months.”