A KILWINNING man who hit his wife after a night out is awaiting sentence.

Douglas McComb left his partner requiring nine stitches after punching her in Foundry Wynd on September 27.

The 44-year-old admitted seizing hold of her body, punching her on the head and causing her to fall to the ground.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard last week how McComb, of Abbey View,  and his wife have been in a relationship for around 30 years.

However, difficulties had arisen in recent years between the pair.

On September 26, McComb was out drinking with friends in Kilwinning town centre.

He returned home but found that his wife was not at home. After trying to contact her, McComb was told she was at a friend’s house for drinks.

McComb was described as being “very upset” by the procurator fiscal and went to find his wife at 1am.

But things took a nasty turn when the pair were walking home.

The court heard that after an argument ensued, McComb punched his wife and knocked her to the ground.

The punch and fall caused her to suffer a blow to the back of her head.

McComb then aggressively grabbed her arms to get the woman to her feet.

The woman suffered bruising to her arms as a result, such was the force McComb used.

Both went home together and the next morning, McComb told his wife he was leaving and would not be coming back before apologising for the assault.

At around 10.30am, he was seen coming down the stairs but another person noticed the injuries on the woman’s face.

Noticing that she was visibly upset, the other  person phoned the police who attended and viewed her injuries.

She was taken to Crosshouse Hospital where she required nine stitches for the split in her nose.

The woman suffered a black eye, a split left nostril along with bruising to her face and arms.

At 9.30am on September 29, McComb attended Irvine Police Office and told officers that he was aware they were looking for him. After being detained and taken to Saltcoats Police Office, McComb admitted the assault under interview.

McComb appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court and pled guilty.

Despite the incident, defence solicitor Peter Murray insisted the couple are keen to reconcile.

Presiding Sheriff Alistair Watson deferred sentence on McComb until September in order to gather social work reports.