AN EXASPERATED mum landed in the dock yesterday...for battering her boyfriend with her handbag after he got so drunk that he collapsed.

Robyn Lafferty was on a night out with Iain Scott McGarry in Paisley in February last year when violence erupted.

The couple began arguing as they were walking through the town centre and Mr McGarry, who was holding a bottle of beer at the time, ended up falling over a concrete bench in County Square.

As he lay on the floor, 26-year-old Lafferty ran up and kicked him, before raining blows on his head with her handbag.

The details emerged yesterday as Lafferty appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to admit her guilt over the events.

She pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr McGarry by kicking him on the body and repeatedly striking him on the head with her handbag while he was lying on the ground.

Procurator fiscal depute Claire Nicholls told Sheriff David Pender the drama was spotted by Renfrewshire Council CCTV operatives just after 12.30am on February 27 this year.

The prosecutor explained: "CCTV operatives observed the accused and the witness McGarry in County Square, Paisley.

"The witness McGarry was observed staggering through the town centre with a beer bottle and thereafter fell over a concrete bench.

"The accused walks towards the witness McGarry, who is lying on the ground, kicked him and thereafter proceeded to hit him twice on the head with her handbag."

Police were contacted and Lafferty was later charged with assault, leading to the prosecution against her.

Defence solicitor Tom Williamson said Lafferty, who has a four-year-old child and has been in a relationship with McGarry for two years, acted as she had because she was at the end of her tether.

The lawyer explained: "She had gone out and had far too much to drink, although I think, in fairness, Mr McGarry was much worse for wear.

"The point of the argument was the extent of his intoxication and she reacted, in the way described, in annoyance.

"She is still with him, the relationship continues."

After hearing that Lafferty has no previous convictions and is currently at college, Sheriff David Pender opted to give her a chance to prove the assault was out of character.

As he deferred sentence on her for six months, he said: "As you have no previous convictions I'm going to give you the opportunity to prove this is just a blip in an otherwise unblemished life so far.

"If you are of good behaviour I'll deal with it leniently.

"If there are any other offences, particularly offences of violence, I will not deal with it leniently – it's up to you."

Lafferty, of Braeside Drive, is set to learn her fate in October.