A MUSSELBURGH resident has been banned from contacting a former partner for the next two years.

Mark Howie, of Eskview Terrace, was found guilty of assaulting the woman following a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.

Howie attended at an address in Leith, where he shouted, swore and uttered abusive remarks to the woman.

The 59-year-old then assaulted the woman by repeatedly seizing and pushing her on the body, striking her to the head and forcing her into a vehicle, all on August 20 last year.

Howie denied the allegations but was found guilty by Sheriff Julius Komorowski on May 3 and sentence had been deferred on several occasions for reports to be prepared.

Howie had earlier admitted to a charge of breaching a court bail order by repeatedly contacting the woman by social media and telephone between August 20 and 25 last year when he had been told he could not do so.

He returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday, where he was placed on a restriction of liberty order and will have to wear an electronic tag and stay at home between 7pm and 7am each night for the next 12 months.

Howie was also handed a non-harassment order meaning he cannot approach or contact the woman in any way for the next 24 months.