A THUG battered his lover so badly his shoe print was left on her face.

Ciaron Mearns pounced on terrified Catherine McGuigan at her home in Glasgow's Shettleston last December.

She had initially tried to console Mearns after he was stopped from seeing his child from a previous relationship.

The 31-year-old made his bleeding victim drive him home following the attack.

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Miss McGuigan later turned up at a friend's door and slumped unconscious following her ordeal.

Mearns now faces jail after he pleaded guilty today at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting his girlfriend to her severe injury.

He was remanded in custody pending sentencing later this month.

The hearing was told Mearns was angry he could not visit his child at Christmas.

Miss McGuigan went to cuddle Mearns - but he instead caused her to fall back on the floor.

The woman then suffered at her lover's violent hands as he unleashed his temper on her.

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Miss McGuigan tried to escape to her car - but Mearns raced after his lover and ordered her to take him home.

The frightened victim eventually persuaded Mearns to get out the vehicle in nearby Tollcross.

Miss McGuigan called a friend to say the thug had "severely battered her".

She then went to the woman's home.

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Miss McGuigan's injuries included her nose being deformed as a result.

Medics said it was fortunate she was not left permanently scarred.

Sentencing was deferred for reports.