A COWDENBEATH man was jailed this week for what a Sheriff called an "alarming course of conduct" against his wife.

Ronald McDonald, 52, of South Street, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

He had previously admitted that on June 5, at South Street, he assaulted his partner by pushing her and throwing an object at her to her injury.

On July 4, he also behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm when he shouted, swore, acted in an aggressive manner and threw a cup, causing it to strike a window.

On the same date at Dunfermline Police Station, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner which was likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm when he uttered threats of violence.

McDonald also admitted a charge that having been granted bail with conditions that he didn't enter Cowdenbeath and didn't approach or contact – or attempt to contact – his partner in that he was with her on August 19.

Defence solicitor, Jonathan Mathieson-Dear, said his client was back with his wife and was working on their relationship.

"His wife, like him, suffers from severe mental health difficulties," he told the Court.

"He accepts his guilt. It is unacceptable behaviour. He suffers from profound, long standing mental health difficulties and he is not seeking to exonerate his behaviour in that.

"It appears when he is stable and taking his medication, there is a lack of offending."

Sheriff Charles Macnair said he didn't consider there was any sentence suitable other than a custodial one.

"This involves three offences involving your wife," he told McDonald.

"One in June, one in July and then the breach of bail in August.

"Individually, one can see that they are probably not at the most serious end of offending but, cumulatively, they show a very alarming course of conduct towards your wife.

"While I accept she may not be wanting you to leave, she is maybe wanting you to stay, the sentence is not up to her, it is up to me."

Sheriff Charles Macnair added that a medical report showed no connection between his offending and his mental health condition.

"You continue to present a risk of violence to your partner and the public at large."

He sentenced McLeod to a total of four months and 102 days and deferred sentence for the earliest assault until March and said consideration could then be given to supervision.