A domestic abuser who attacked his partner twice in three days has been spared prison.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that Grant Sneddon accused the woman of being a "drama queen" when she wouldn't stop screaming after he punched her.
The 33-year-old was given a community payback order after he admitted assaulting the woman at his home in Cleland on January 1 and 3 last year.
Paul Jamieson, prosecuting, said Sneddon woke up his girlfriend at 4am on New Year's Day and an argument ensued about an ex-partner.
The fiscal stated: "He climbed on top of the woman, straddled her and pinned down her arms.
"He then applied pressure to her neck and she had difficulty breathing because of this.
"It lasted 10 to 15 minutes, with the victim attempting to fight him off. Both parties went to bed after this and there was no injury to her."
A second assault happened shortly after the couple went to bed about 5am on January 3.
Sneddon checked his partner's phone and saw an old WhatsApp message from an ex-boyfriend.
Mr Jamieson told the court: "He became enraged and accused her of cheating on him.
"He climbed on top of her and sat on her chest as she lay in bed.
"She was able to break free, but the accused pushed her about the bedroom and she ran into the bathroom.
"The accused followed, pulled her into the hall and punched her to the eye, knocking her off her feet.
"He shouted at her to stop screaming as she was 'being a drama queen'.
"He then dragged her by the hair and as she tried to slide down the stairs he stood on her body to prevent her from moving.
"Eventually the victim was able to leave the house and she drove to the accused's mother's address as she was the closest person she knew."
Sneddon's mother saw she had an injury to her eye and was in a "hysterical" state.
She agreed to take her to hospital, but before they could leave Sneddon turned up and told his partner, "sorry. I didn't mean it. If the police get phoned I'm getting lifted".
Mr Jamieson added: "The accused's mother told him to leave as what he'd done was unacceptable. The women then went to Wishaw General Hospital.
"On their way they flagged down a police car.The victim told officers what had happened and said she'd been 'frightened for her life' as she tried to fight off the accused."
Hospital staff found that the woman had a swollen nose, a black eye and a cut below the eye that had to be glued.
She had bruising to both arms and her neck, chest and legs.
After studying background reports, Sheriff Ray Small put Sneddon under supervision for 20 months and ordered him to carry out 160 hours of unpaid community work.
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