A COWDENBEATH man who left his partner unconscious said he was "very embarrassed" by his behaviour.

Barclay Denholm punched the woman after a night out leaving her unconscious on the bedroom floor.

Denholm, 50, of Paterson Lane, previously admitted that on October 7, 2017, at a property, in Cowdenbeath, he did assault his then partner and did punch her on the head, pin her body against a wall and throw household objects at her, to her injury.

Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard that the couple had been in a relationship for two and half years and that evening had been drinking for most of the night.

After arguing in a local pub, they headed back to Denholm's home but become separated at some point.

When the accused arrived back home he found his partner asleep on the bed, but she woke up and said she wanted to speak to him.

After telling her he didn't want to, he punched her on the left eye causing her to fall on to the bedroom floor, the Court heard.

When she regained consciousness she fled to the living room but then went back to try and talk to Denholm about the matter.

Still unwilling to speak, he grabbed the complainer.

She was bleeding at the time and a flat mate had to treat her injury. During the incident objects were also thrown by the complainer, the Court heard.

The following morning the woman contacted the police. When they arrived, they could see her injuries and see she was stressed.

An ambulance was called, and she was taken to the Victoria Hospital.

Police also witnessed the complainer receiving a message from Denholm apologising for the incident but said she would need to pay for the damage she had caused.

The complainer was described as having bruising and swelling to various parts of her body.

Defence solicitor, Ian Beatson, told the Court that the couple had reconciled shortly after the incident.

"Mr Denholm's mother died in 2016, following that he appears to have developed a problem with alcohol and his partner was also drinking to excess at this stage," he said.

"One of his former partners was in the pub and that appears to have caused some jealousy.

"They had too much alcohol to the extent where she was sick in the pub, so he left.

"He went home to find her asleep in the bedroom, but she had damaged items in the property and he became angry at this.

"This was very much out of character. There has never been any incident with this woman or any other partner.

"He is very embarrassed about this."

Sheriff Christopher Shead imposed a community payback order with 12 months supervision and 160 hours of unpaid work.