A SERIAL thug who tortured his partner in a horrific assault lasting for several hours has been jailed for more than two and a half years.

Martin Crawford was branded “a danger to women” after a court was told he had beaten up five of his previous partners.

Prosecutor Claire Nicholls told Dumbarton Sheriff Court how 28-year-old Crawford, described in court papers as an inmate at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow, struck the woman on the head with a watch, pulled her by the body and hair and hit her on the head with a plastic tube in the incident at a house in Bonhill on February 6.

Crawford admitted charges of assault and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly shouting and swearing, smashing a mirror and taking the woman’s mobile phone and house keys.

His lawyer, Andrew Kane, told the court: “He regrets the matter and apologises for the way he behaved.

“The lady didn’t seek medical treatment and at first refused to provide her name and make a statement to police until her father intervened.

“A custodial sentence will be at the forefront of the court’s mind. He works continually and I suggest that a community based disposal could be imposed.”

Sheriff Simon Pender said:“This was an appalling incident which lasted for hours, with you behaving in a disgraceful manner.”

The court then heard that Crawford had two convictions from the High Court, both for assault, one of which left his victim permanently disfigured.

The sheriff went on: “You have convictions for assaults on five of your previous partners. You are a danger to women.”

Crawford was jailed for eight months on the first charge, reduced from 12 because of his early plea, and for 32 months for the assault, with the two terms to be served concurrently.

He will also be supervised for 12 months when he is released from prison.

After hearing that social workers believed there was a “high risk” Crawford would re-offend, Sheriff Pender imposed a five-year non-harassment order which bans him from approaching or contacting his victim.