A THUG who dragged his partner of 18 years by the hair onto a road hours after police were called for an earlier assault on the woman 'would be dead' if he had not been remanded in prison over the violent offences, Greenock Sheriff Court has been told.

Steven Pettigrew's solicitor told a sentencing hearing that time in custody had saved the 38-year-old cocaine addict's life.

Pettigrew - who pleaded guilty to two assaults against his victim - had originally been charged with throwing a corrosive substance over her head and body.

This allegation was removed as part of a negotiated plea deal with prosecutors, however, Pettigrew admitted to striking the woman on the head and injuring her, as well as grabbing her, pursuing her, seizing her by the hair and dragging her onto the road.

The incidents occurred at an address in Port Glasgow last year.

A procurator fiscal depute told the court that Pettigrew and the complainer had been at home together at around midday on April 29 when they 'entered into an argument, allegedly over money'.

Pettigrew left the house and hit the woman to the right-hand side of her face with his right hand, leaving bruising and swelling around her eye.

His father reported the assault to police after being contacted by the victim, but officers could not trace him after turning up to the property.

The court was told Pettigrew returned to the home at around 4pm the same afternoon and again began arguing with the woman.

The fiscal depute said: "The witness ran to the bottom of the stairs and the accused followed her and grabbed her, however, she managed to evade his grasp and ran across the street to a nearby grass area.

"He then grabbed her by the ponytail and dragged her for around 10 metres onto the road."

A passer-by within a vehicle called police to report the incident and Pettigrew was later found in a neighbouring property.

The court heard he has been remanded in prison since May 1, 2023.

Solicitor Ellen Macdonald said: "He is well aware he will receive a custodial sentence on this matter.

"There were certain pressures on the family financially and he accepts that he exacerbated matters by abusing cocaine. That is what the argument was over.

"Money was short and he was abusing what little money was available by abusing cocaine and street valium.

"He was visibly distressed when he was shown photos of the injuries he caused to the complainer and he accepted his guilt.

"Without a custodial sentence he would probably be dead. Custody has saved his life, such was the extent of his addiction."

Sheriff James Spy jailed Pettigrew for a year, with the sentence backdated to May 1, 2023. A 12-month non-harassment order was also imposed.