A DOMESTIC violence accused Greenock man referred to one of his hands as 'Mental Mickey' before leaving a woman fearing for her life by pinning her against a wall by her neck, a jury has heard.

Colin McIver, 52, is facing several charges, including allegations that he engaged in an abusive course of conduct towards a now-deceased woman over seven months in 2019 and 2020.

In the woman's statements to police - which are being used as evidence in the case - she described McIver as having 'hollow' and 'evil' eyes.

The trial heard evidence from a Police Scotland detective who conducted several formal interviews with the woman in April 2020.

She told police she had known McIver for 12 or 13 years before entering a relationship with him in August 2019.

In November of that year, McIver agreed to decorate her flat while she was working a nightshift.

Her statement noted that he moved his belongings into her home without gaining permission.

READ MORE: 'Domestic assaults' trial told Greenock man 'punched pregnant partner'

The woman said she suffered ‘several domestic assaults’ at the hands of McIver but did not seek medical treatment for her injuries as she ‘wouldn’t be allowed to’.

She added that he hurt her in ‘places people wouldn’t see’ and ‘under her clothing’.

The woman told detectives about an alleged incident in which McIver became aggressive after she failed to buy him tobacco on her way home from work.

She described being grabbed by throat – which McIver knew was her ‘weak spot’ due to previous medical complications.

The woman noted McIver referred to his left hand as his ‘mental mickey’ because it was ‘all made of metal’.

The statement read: “His eyes were hollow. It’s pure evilness in his eyes.”

In a second statement, the woman described a separate incident in which she claimed McIver grabbed her by the throat.

She told police: “He would say his ‘mental mickey’ would kill me and his right hand would hurt me.

(Image: Newsquest)

“He pinned me by the throat. He was using his right hand. He had it all around my neck.

“He said to me, ‘don’t embarrass me again.’ This was because I hadn’t left him money.

“If he wanted to kill me, he could have. I genuinely thought I was going to die that morning.

“I went to the toilet and was sick. I don’t know what caused that – the panic or the pressure on my throat.”

McIver, of Mill Street, is also charged with punching a pregnant woman in the stomach and assaulting her on other occasions between May 1999 and September 2000 at addresses in Greenock and Port Glasgow.

Jurors heard evidence from the woman earlier this week, with her daughter later taking to the witness box.

The daughter described seeing her mum with ‘bruises on her body’, ‘black eyes’ and ‘bust noses’.

She described incidents when she was aged around 12 or 13 in which McIver ‘hit’ and ‘punched’ her mother, as well as times when he ‘pushed her against the wall’.

The woman told the court: “I don’t know why they were arguing.

(Image: Newsquest)

“Colin threw a cup or an item then he jumped over the table and went for my mum.

“I rushed my two brothers out the room.

“He threw her up against the wall and hit her.

“I was picking the kids up - they were crying, my mum was screaming.”

The daughter also claimed McIver ‘threw’ a hoover at her in a common close as she ran to a neighbour’s house to find her mother.

Another detective constable gave evidence regarding a statement given by the complainer’s elderly mother in May 2020.

In her statement, she said: “She had lost all her confidence.

“She told me she was scared of Colin but she would not leave him.

"I think that was because her confidence was so low.”

The trial before Sheriff Sheena Fraser continues at Greenock Sheriff Court.