Grieving dad who beat his partner jailed

A GRIEVING dad who beat his partner in an alcohol-fuelled bust-up after losing his children in a car crash has been jailed for 16 months.

Gary Mack, 43, attacked Leanne Henderson and repeatedly struck her on the head and body in Longstone Park, Edinburgh, in October.

The city’s sheriff court heard how the pair had spent the evening drinking before they started arguing with each other.

The software engineer then lost his temper and threw her to the ground.

The court heard how medics who treated her found she had several cuts to the face – one was so deep that they could see a nerve protruding through the skin.

Mack, described as a prisoner of Saughton, was yesterday sent to prison by Sheriff James Scott.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to severe injury at a hearing last month.

The court heard how Mack had turned to drink to cope with the loss of his two children who died in a car smash in December 2010.

Sheriff Scott said: “No sentence other than a custodial one is appropriate.”