A woman was attacked by her partner who told her she should have wakened him up earlier for his work.

Dillon Crittenden was also unhappy that she would not make him some lunch to take with him.

His abusive behaviour landed 28-year-old Crittenden, of Waggon Road, Crossford, in the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on November 24 last year at Meadow View, Crossford, he shouted, swore, acted aggressively, seized his partner and covered her mouth, to her injury.

Then on March 29 this year at the same address, he damaged property there by striking a door.

On the same day, he shouted and swore at his partner and pushed her against a wall.

Depute fiscal Christine Allan said the couple had been in relationship for three years.

At 5.45am the woman woke him for his work as he lay on a sofa.

Shortly afterwards, he entered the bedroom shouting and swearing, saying she should have woke him up earlier.

He was also angry when she refused to make his lunch. He punched a door and grabbed her by the throat, holding her against a door for a minute.

The woman was crying following the assault but he told her to “stop her crocodile tears”. She later contacted a friend and the police were called.

In the next incident, Crittenden followed the woman after an argument, pushing her against a wall.

Defence solicitor Alan Davie said: “He’s a grown man who can wake himself up for work, make his own food and not blame anyone else.

“It’s a terrible way to behave and quite embarrassing. He has issues with alcohol misuse.”

The relationship is now over the court was told.

Sheriff Krista Johnston said: “It’s quite appalling to hear of a man grabbing a woman by the throat and covering her mouth. It must have been terrifying for her.”

She told Crittenden that it was only the fact he was a first offender that was keeping him out of jail on this occasion.

The sheriff imposed a community payback order with 160 hours of unpaid work. “Breach it and if you come back before me, you’ll get the jail,” she warned him.