A JOINER has been jailed after he beat up his girlfriend so badly that their hotel room was turned into a bloodbath.

Steven Howie, a full-time joiner and a canvasser for a dry cleaning company, left Karen Murray, 31, with 18 separate injuries after assaulting her over a period of an hour in the room.

Howie, 28, punched, kicked and kneed her during a prolonged assault, smashed furnishings, and pulled the door of their en-suite bathroom at the Carronbridge Hotel, in the Campsie Fells, off its hinges.

Because the inn was so isolated, Miss Murray was unable to get a signal to call police, and officers only arrived after guests in another room dialled 999.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard that Howie and Miss Murray, who had been dating for about four months, had gone to Stirling for the castle's Hogmanay celebrations, which were to have been headlined by The Waterboys.

Lindsey Brooks, prosecuting, said that "alcohol was consumed" and at one point there was an argument about Howie speaking to another female.

The Stirling Castle event was later cancelled due to bad weather, and the pair took a taxi back to the hotel about 10.30pm.

When they got back to their room, Howie began to shout and swear at Miss Murray, calling her a whore and a liar.

The depute fiscal said: "Miss Murray said it came out of the blue.

"The accused then punched her in the face, causing her nose to bleed, punched her in the stomach, and kneed her in the back numerous times."

A couple staying in the room next door phoned police, who found Howie in the hotel car park, heavily intoxicated, with blood on his T-shirt.

Miss Murray was taken to hospital in Larbert, Stirlingshire, where a police surgeon noted 18 separate injuries. They included bruising under the eyes and on the nose, damaged lips, scratches, and bruises to her jaw, both arms and both shoulders, her leg and thigh, and her abdominal wall.

Howie, of Lorimer Gardens, Dunfermline, admitted threatening violence, assaulting and injuring Miss Murray, causing damage to the room, and giving a false name to police.

His defence agent James Moncrieff said: "He is extremely remorseful and recognises that this is a very serious offence."

Mr Moncrieff told the court that Howie and Miss Murray were planning on rekindling their relationship.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson told Howie: "I am told that your partner appears to wish to continue a relationship with you - that is a factor that I have taken into account.

"These offences are examples of sustained violence."

Sheriff Robertson said that despite the complainer's desire to continue the relationship, there was "no alternative to a custodial sentence".

He sentenced Howie to eight months' imprisonment.