Woman given Xmas beating

A WOMAN was beaten up by her estranged partner on Christmas Day as she tried to comfort him over the death of his aunt.

By The Newsroom

Published 28th Dec 2012, 12:00 BST

Karen Cochrane was hospitalised after the drunken attack by Gary Dornan.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard Dornan, 30, from Musselburgh, had 52 previous convictions for a range of offences including serious assault.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Cochrane by repeatedly punching her on the head, dragging her to the ground by her hair and punching and kicking her on the head and body. The attack happened in Uphall Station, West Lothian.

Sheriff Douglas Kinloch refused bail and adjourned the case until January 17.