IRVINE MAN BANNED FROM EVER AGAIN CONTACTING EX PARTNER HE BEAT
A man from Irvine was viciously assaulted by his partner of just one month and has been prohibited from any further contact with her.John McCulloch was brought from custody after admitting to repeatedly striking the woman in the head at her residence in Dumbarton.
According to court records, he resides in Irvine but was detained in Greenock.
The 42-year-old drove the woman to shout for help and kick her legs to attract neighbors’ attention.
The relationship began on March 5 and ended with the attack described in court.
On the night of April 19 into April 20, both were at her home drinking alcohol until the early hours.
During this time, McCulloch accused her of having sex with a former partner.
When she left the room, he followed her and punched her multiple times in the face, causing her to raise her arms defensively.
She then fell to the floor, and he mounted her, delivering more blows that left her face heavily bruised.
She kicked the floor to call for help from a neighbor downstairs and shouted for assistance.
A witness observed McCulloch holding her jumper with his left hand while fists were raised in his right, and saw her bloodied face.
The witness checked if she was okay, but McCulloch approached him and told him to leave.
She seized this chance to run downstairs and escape.
Police quickly responded, arrested McCulloch, who denied involvement by stating, "I never done it." He was released on bail to appear in court.
The injured woman was taken by ambulance to the Royal Alexandra Hospital and later to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, suffering neck pain and bruises.
A few days afterward, McCulloch contacted her via WhatsApp, and they spoke for nearly an hour.
During the call, she showed him her injuries, which he had caused, and heard the court.
The prosecutor noted McCulloch claimed it would not happen again, which upset his ex, prompting her to hang up.
He attempted to call her multiple times and later messaged that he was nearby her house.
Knowing he lived in Irvine, she deduced he likely traveled by train, and she then contacted police.
He later messaged her asking, “where are you?” When police officers arrived, he was found hiding under a tree in a nearby park.
He told them he only wanted to apologize, claiming, “I was not going to hurt her.
I just wanted to come up and apologise.
She called me.
She invited me.” McCulloch admitted to assaulting the woman, causing her injury, and also acknowledged breaching a court order not to contact her, doing so repeatedly between April 26 and 28.
Both charges were aggravated by the fact that the victim was his partner or ex-partner.
His solicitor stated that her client felt remorse and shame for his actions, and that he had a history of alcohol misuse, which he acknowledged did not justify his behavior but was a factor.
She explained that the grief from the death of his brother and sister contributed to his decline and dependency on alcohol.
He is unable to participate in the Caledonian Men's Programme aimed at preventing domestic abuse until he addresses his alcohol problems.
The sheriff, Frances McCartney, highlighted the severity of the case with a strong victim impact statement, describing it as “an appalling example of domestic violence.” She sentenced him to three years in prison, starting from April 28.
Upon release, he will be supervised for an additional year.
He is strictly barred from any contact with the woman, including online comments or entering her street in Dumbarton.
