A TRANENT man who threatened his partner and assaulted her by placing a pillow over her face has been ordered to stay away from the woman for the next two years.

Peter Murray assaulted the woman by placing an arm around her neck and putting the pillow in front of her face during a violent exchange earlier this year.

Murray, of Blawearie Road, also uttered abusive remarks towards the woman and repeatedly punched her to the head during the assault at an address in Prestonpans.

Murray admitted acting aggressively towards the woman when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but he denied the assault charge and stood trial last Wednesday.

Following the evidence, Sheriff Ross found the 50-year-old guilty of assaulting the woman during the September incident.

Murray was handed a two-year non-harassment order following the guilty verdict and was ordered to pay a £450 fine to cover both offences.

Murray admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards the woman and uttering abusive remarks towards her at an address at Robertson Avenue, Prestonpans, on September 23.

He was then found guilty of assaulting the same woman by placing his arm around her neck, placing a pillow over her face and repeatedly punching her to the head at the same location and on the same date.