A domestically abusive 36-year-old man threatened to throw his heavily-pregnant partner down the stairs.

The behaviour of Emil Paszkowski was revealed by the woman’s dad who placed a recording device in their home.

This resulted in Paszkowski, of Gorse Wynd, Inverkeithing, appearing in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court with a Polish translator.

He admitted that between 8th and 10th July at his home he shouted, swore, acted aggressively, repeatedly made offensive remarks towards his partner, repeatedly made threats, all whilst she was pregnant.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said the couple have been together for four years and live together. At the time of the offences, the woman was eight months pregnant.

The woman’s parents had made a surprise visit to Scotland to see her and the dad had placed a voice recorder in their home.

This was because he had concerns about his daughter and suspicions about how Paszkowski was treating her.

Paszkowski was unhappy about the parents coming to Scotland and when the recording was later listened to, he could be heard shouting abuse.

He called his partner “a whore” and told her to “get the f*** out of my house”.

He shouted: “I want to hit you but I won’t because you’re pregnant.”

He said she should go back to Poland and threatened her, saying: “You’re going to go flying down the stairs in a minute.”

Defence solicitor Alan Davie said: “She moved to Scotland to live with him and I don’t think her parents have ever been happy about her decision.”

On his client’s behaviour, he added:  “He says he suffered a panic attack but nothing excuses how he spoke to her at a time when she was heavily pregnant.”

Sheriff Mark O’Hanlon deferred sentencing for good behaviour until 19th March.