A BRUTE who subjected his partner to a five-month reign of terror and then tried to apologise by sending her flowers has been jailed.

Stuart Fulton, 35, battered and bit Janet McDougall, as well as repeatedly spitting on her face.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard he attacked Miss McDougall at her home in Love Street, Paisley, on April 22 last year by hitting her on the head with an Xbox controller.

On May 24 he attacked her again – in an assault so savage it brought their relationship to an end. Sobbing and terrified, Miss McDougall rolled herself up into a ball to try to protect herself from her partner of 10 years. But callous Fulton, of Newton Avenue, Barrhead, told her: “Turn around and look up – you’re getting it.”

He was arrested and charged before being given special bail conditions banning him from approaching or contacting Miss McDougall. But after agreeing a plea deal with prosecutors, grovelling Fulton breached them by sending her flowers in an attempt to apologise.

Fulton admitted his guilt at Paisley Sheriff Court last month, striking a deal that saw an abduction and imprisonment charge reduced to assault. He pleaded guilty to charges of assault, threatening or abusive behaviour and breaking bail conditions.

Sentence was deferred and Fulton returned to the dock this week to be sentenced.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew jailed him for 19 months and banned Fulton from approaching or contacting Miss McDougall in any way for the next four years.