A domestic abuser who called his ex-partner a 'fat Gremlin' then spat on her has been jailed for 14 months.
Alexander Cuthbert, 27, was told that only his guilty pleas had saved him from an even longer sentence.
Cuthbert, of Baird Place, Bellshill, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted assaulting the woman and acting in a threatening or abusive manner.
The incident happened at her home in Amethyst Avenue, Bellshill, on September 24 last year.
Alice Carey, prosecuting, said Cuthbert went to the house to collect a child, but then an argument with his ex started.
The fiscal stated: "He began to shout and swear at her, calling her a fat Gremlin and a fat whale.
"He spat at her twice and spittle landed on her t-shirt."
The court heard Cuthbert has had a string of prison sentences since 2015.
His lawyer suggested an alternative to another jail stretch could be imposed, saying:
"He's in full time employment. The background report says work could be done with him by way of a domestic abuse programme.
"He could be put under supervision and given unpaid community work."
However, Sheriff Colin Dunipace told Cuthbert: "This was appalling behaviour against a background of violent offending.
"It can only be marked by a custodial sentence which I've reduced from 20 months because of your guilty pleas."
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