Man covered girlfriend in ice cream during dispute

A MAN was jailed today after he pled guilty to covering his girlfriend in ice cream in a bid to stop her running away from him.

Ian Copeland, 53, rubbed a bowl of ice cream into his partner’s arm and body after the couple had an argument and he became aggressive after consuming alcohol.

Prosecutor Marie Claire Chaffey told Alloa Sheriff Court that Copeland and his partner had been in a relationship for 10 years.

She said: “It was about half past two in the afternoon on June 27, and the complainer was at her home address.

“The accused attended and they watched television together.

“The accused began drinking alcohol.”

The depute fiscal then told the court that a few hours later the accused became “aggressive” and the complainer made reference to him returning to his “old ways.”

Miss Chaffey said: “The accused jumped off of the sofa and lunged at the complainer.

“As she was expecting him to hit her, he squeezed both of her hands to hurt her.

“He grabbed her arm and rubbed a bowl of ice cream in to her arm and body.”

She then ran upstairs and called the police.

Miss Chaffey added: “It was clear when the police got to the address that the complainer was in fear.

“She had ice cream all over her hair and clothes.”

Copeland, of Tay Court, Alloa pled guilty to assaulting his girlfriend, squeezing her by the hands and covering her head and body with ice cream to her injury in July.

His sentencing was deferred for three months to give Copeland a chance to be of good behaviour but Sheriff David Mackie sent him to prison after it emerged he had been involved in another incident, similar to the former.

His defence lawyer, Robert Smith said: “He has not been of good behaviour my lord,

“There has been a similar incident that has taken place since and Mr Copeland was sentenced to prison.

“Since he has been imprisoned at Barlinnie, the complainer has requested that he should call her.”

Sheriff Mackie said: “You were given an opportunity to be of good behaviour and you have ended up in custody.

“It seems to me that this issue is in your own hands.

“You have to learn to stop resorting to physical means of violence.

“You have been given every opportunity with and without support to fix this.

“There is no option for me but to impose a custodial sentence.”

Copeland was sentenced to three months imprisonment - in addition to the sentence he is already serving in relation to another matter - from today.