Domestic abuse thug controlled what girlfriend wore and attacker her while pregnant
A domestic abuse thug controlled what his girlfriend wore - and repeatedly hit and threatened to kill and rape her while she was pregnant.
Controlling Reece McDonald strangled the young woman so violently that she was sick and passed out, in a life-threatening attack.
And he also held a knife to her throat and threatened to stab the woman and burn her house down while she was expecting.
He abused the young woman over a two-and-a-half year period, starting harassing her from the age of 16.
McDonald, now 20, admitted his guilt when he appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court today, Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
He pleaded guilty to carrying out an abusive course of conduct between March 2022 and September 2024 at properties in Paisley.
Procurator Fiscal Depute Decla O'Connor explained: "The couple began their relationship in early 2022 and have two sons together.
"He became controlling and told her what she could and should wear.
"He began punching her on the head and body regularly.
"When she was expecting their first son the accused didn't hit her as often."
The prosecutor told the court that, throughout the relationship, he would lash out when he was angry.
She explained: "He would become angry and punch doors and walls, threaten to kill the complainer, burn her house down, and hit and punch her on the head and body.
"He would be asked to leave the property and would refuse."
She took pictures of bruises and made audio recordings of the threats McDonald made, which were played in court.
He also made threats to rape her and stab her.
Miss O'Connor continued: "He held a knife against her throat
"Another time he seized her neck and compressed it, causing her to vomit and lose consciousness."
Sheriff Eoin McGinty asked to be played the audio recordings of the abuse, to give him "a snapshot of the level of aggression" McDonald had displayed.
In one of the recordings, the young woman can be heard sobbing as she tells McDonald: "We are done. Get that through your head."
He shouted back: "I'll stab f*** outta you."
Another recording revealed a frantic struggle where they could be heard in a physical altercation with each other.
McDonald was due to go on trial over the claims but struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to a reduced charge.
He admitted breaching Section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 by engaging in an abusive course of conduct towards his partner.
He admitted controlling what clothes she wore, punching doors and walls, threatening to kill her, refusing to leave her home and threatening to burn her house down.
He also admitted holding a knife to her throat, grabbing her by the necklace and strangling her with it, and strangling her until she was sick and lost consciousness.
And the charge also stated he threatened to rape her and punched her on the head and body, and that his attacks were to the danger of her life.
Claims that he had also threatened to kill her child, held a knife to her throat on more occasions, held her down so she was not able to move, and threatened to kill himself if she left him were deleted from the charge.
Sheriff McGinty said: "I am duty bound to call for [background] reports [from social workers] to see what options are available to deal with you, but you shouldn't read anything into that - there's a bit of inevitability about what's going to happen."
Sentencing was adjourned until next month and McDonald was remanded in custody.
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