Grieving thug hit girlfriend over head with Eldorado bottle because she didn't give him cuddle

A man carried out a bottle attack on his long-term girlfriend after she didn't give him a cuddle when he was grieving his sister's death.

Andrew Browne hit his partner of 14 years over the head with a bottle of Eldorado tonic wine - then rained blows on her with a plank of wood.

The 48-year-old's victim was left covered in blood after the attack, which left her scarred for life.

Medics had to use staples to seal a gaping wound to her head, which has left permanent scarring.

Browne has now been jailed over the incident and banned from approaching or contacting his victim.

The details emerged on Friday when Browne appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court over the incident.

He pleaded guilty to attacking the woman at a flat in Gordon Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, on December 17 last year.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Jason Stark explained: "The accused had been upset the previous evening due to finding his late sister deceased within her flat.

"The witness consumed cocaine and due to this the accused Browne became annoyed at her.

"The accused Browne started shouting and bawling at her and thereafter struck her on the head with an El Dorado bottle.

"The bottle did not smash. The accused thereafter ran out of the flat."

A neighbour who had heard the attack found the woman "slumped on the landing covered in blood".

Mr Stark, prosecuting, continued: "She returned to her flat and attempted to wash the blood out of her hair.

"Around an hour later she heard knocking at the door and went to answer it where she observed the accused Browne.

"He was attempting to get back into the flat and attempting to apologise to her for what had happened.

"The accused then started becoming emotional, crying and shouting about his sister.

"An argument ensued between both persons which spilled out into the common close.

"The accused Browne picked up a plank of wood from within the common close and struck the witness to the head several times.

"The accused attempted to punch and kick the witness thereafter, where she put her hands over her head to try and protect herself.

"The accused struck the witness with an unknown item to the hands, however due to having her hands covering her face to protect herself she couldn't confirm what she was struck with.

"The accused Browne stated to the witness that he was doing this because she didn't give him a cuddle."

Browne made off and his girlfriend and a concerned neighbour both contacted the police, with the victim saying "please help me" while distressed and upset.

She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance where she was found to have a 3 inch long laceration to the back of her head which needed 10 staples to close and has left a permanent scar.

Defence solicitor Eamonn McGeehan said: "He had returned home the previous evening and found the body of his deceased sister, who died in unexplained circumstances.

"When he drinks to excess he finds himself before the court. He is now approaching 50 and is someone who is not able to drink in moderation."

He said Browne, who had been remanded in custody over the incident since appearing in court on December 18 last year, was engaging with an alcohol worker whilst in prison.

Sheriff Tom McCartney jailed Browne for two years, reduced from three years as he admitted his guilt.

He also placed him on a three-year Non-Harassment Order, banning him from approaching or contacting his victim.