A RENFREWSHIRE man has appeared in court charged with assaulting his wife 18 years ago by throwing a pair of boots at her.

Andrew McNeill is alleged to have assaulted Jane O'Hagan between New Year's Day 2001 and December 31, 2002.

Court papers claim that, at a property in Tuthill Drive, Erskine, he assaulted her by throwing a pair of boots at her.

And McNeill, of Sempill Avenue, Erskine, is also accused of assaulting her again nine years ago.

Prosecutors allege that, between February 1, 2010, and March 31 that year, at the Tuthill Drive property, he assaulted her by striking her on the face.

McNeill faces a third allegation that he behaved in a threatening or abusive way towards his wife, that was likely to cause her to suffer fear or alarm, by shouting, swearing and acting aggressively towards her between October 6, 2010, and May 31, 2011.

When the case against McNeill called for the first time at Paisley Sheriff Court this week, he pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

Prosecutors had asked for special bail conditions to be imposed, which would have banned McNeill from approaching or contacting his ex-wife.

But after hearing that they have children together and are often in contact about the kids, Sheriff Lindsey Kooner released him on bail.

She told him: "I'm satisfied standard conditions are sufficient in this case."

A trial date has been set for April, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March.