A serial domestic abuser assaulted his long-term partner in front of shoppers in East Kilbride.
Thomas Murphy had just been freed from prison when he lost his temper, leaving the victim "scared and embarrassed".
Murphy, 51, a prisoner, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted grabbing his partner and pulling her at East Kilbride Shopping Centre on May 11 last year.
Days earlier Murphy had been freed after serving a 22-month jail sentence for assaulting his partner at her home in Quebec Drive, East Kilbride.
On that occasion he knocked her to the floor, put his hands around her neck and applied pressure by putting his foot against the back of her head.
Referring to the notorious serial killer, he warned 'I'll do worse than what Fred West did'.
The court heard this week that the couple have been in a relationship for 25 years.
They were out shopping around 11am when they had a row.
Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said: "The accused grabbed his partner by the jacket and pulled her, making comments to passers by such as 'This is how you should be treating a woman'.
"She was scared and embarrassed, but there were no actual injuries."
Defence agent Ian McClelland said Murphy had been drinking and was ashamed of his behaviour.
The solicitor stated: "It was over in a matter of seconds, but it's aggravated significantly because of his record."
Sheriff John Speir deferred sentence until March 23 for background reports and for Murphy to be assessed for a domestic abuse programme.
The sheriff said: "He was no sooner out of prison than he committed this offence. He has an appalling record for domestic-related offending."
Murphy, who has been in prison since May, was again remanded in custody.
The sheriff imposed a non-harassment order, banning him from any contact with the woman for three years.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and share.
