A Maybole man described by his own lawyer as a “Jekyll and Hyde character” has been jailed for nearly two years.

Andrew Tait admitted repeatedly punching his ex on the head, smashing a man’s window with a brick, and spitting on a female police officer while high on ‘street Valium’ during an incident in the town last year.

Tait, 43, was sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court last week after admitting various offences stemming from an incident in the town’s Bryants Close on September 15, 2022.

Tait pleaded guilty to seizing his ex partner on the body, pushing her to the ground and repeatedly punching her on the head to her injury.

He also admitted threatening behaviour after kicking a man’s door then smashing his windows with a brick.

Tait also entered a guilty plea to charges of kicking one police officer on the body and spitting on a female cop after officers were called to deal with the incident.

John Gillies, defending, told Sheriff Shirley Foran: “Mr Tait is now 43 and is a single man ordinarily living in Maybole.

“He has lived in Maybole the majority of his life, and has a lengthy record.

“In this situation, he recalls very little due to the amount of ‘street Valium’ he had taken.

“Mr Tait is his own worst enemy and knows he has to get help. He is constantly getting in trouble with the court.

“He certainly knows that at his age it’s time to do something about it.

“This court has heard many times the description of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ character. He is one of the most softly-spoken individuals, I know but when taking drugs he’s a different individual altogether.”

Sheriff Shirley Foran said: “With your record of offending and offences of this nature there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”

Tait, who was listed in court papers as an inmate at Kilmarnock prison, was jailed for 23 months, with a period of prison recall taken into account.