Thug terrorised woman and her son in month-long campaign of abuse

Kevin Palmer, 38, targeted the woman and the youngster at a flat in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire.

Palmer pulled a mattress from under the boy as he sat on his bed and went on to try choke the woman.

He also soaked the flat in car cleaner which the woman had initially thought was petrol.

Palmer pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to engaging in a course of abusive conduct.

The charge spans between September and October 2022.

The court heard that the pair had an argument on September 5, 2022.

Prosecutor Jaqui Wall said: "During the argument, he went into the boy's bedroom - he was sitting on the bed.

"Palmer pulled the mattress from under the boy which caused him to get a fright but he did not fall from the bed.

"This really upset the boy and the woman believed Palmer did this to upset her."

Palmer went on to try and choke the woman by putting his two hands around her neck.

Later that night, an anonymous man reported hearing noises coming from the flat and police attended.

Officers spoke to the boy who said: "Kevin makes me feel angry, he says bad words, he makes my mum feel angry and makes her shout and cry, my mum and Kevin were shouting.

"I don't like Kevin, I don't like when Kevin is here, I'm worried for my mum, I'm worried about her."

Palmer was able to get back on the scene and the woman was too scared to report him to the police.

The abuse continued and Palmer kicked the woman when she was asleep.

Palmer would also speak "inappropriately" in front of the boy and the woman told him to stop.

He replied: "I don't f***ing care, it's not my wean."

The woman returned home on October 14 and believed she smelled petrol.

She noticed that the TV was on the floor, the cord for her hoover was broken and there were sparks.

The electricity also tripped when she tried to put on the lights.

An attempt to turn it on at the fuse box did not work.

Police later attended and noted that the close door had liquid on the outside of it.

Palmer went to a police station several days later where he was arrested.

Calum Weir, defending, told the court that the liquid was car polish which was not flammable.

The lawyer added: "This is not to say that it was not frightening but it is an important factor.

"His behaviour was disgraceful and he is ashamed."

Sentence was deferred until next month pending a report into Palmer.

His remand in custody was continued meantime by Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC.