A woman whose scalp was horrifically burned after her boyfriend held her down on a red hot cooker ring has asked a judge to treat him with leniency.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 36-year-old John McKinlay launched an attack on Carol Ann Wilson, his partner of 13 years, because she complained he had gone away for a day leaving her without money or food.

McKinlay admitted assaulting her to her severe injury and permanent disfigurement by punching her, seizing her by the hair, forcing her over a cooker and holding her head on a ring and repeatedly hitting her over the head with a pole until it broke.

The assault took place in the family home in Robert Burns Avenue, Clydebank, on October 8, 2011.

Despite McKinlay's actions, Ms Wilson has written to the Crown asking for him to be treated leniently. A letter pleading for mercy was passed to judge Lord Woolman in court on Wednesday.

The court heard that a row broke out when McKinlay returned home at 3.30pm, having been away since the previous afternoon.

Ms Wilson complained that he had left her without any money or food.

Advocate depute Allan Nicol, prosecuting, said: "The accused became increasing aggressive before repeatedly punching her on the head and then striking her repeatedly on her back.

"Carol Ann Wilson became fearful and ran into the front garden. The accused followed her and told her to get back into the house.

"When she returned the accused continued punching her on the head and striking her with the wooden pole before seizing her by the hair and forcing her towards the cooker.

"He then held her head against a red hot ring for several seconds."

The court was told that Ms Wilson could feel and smell her hair and scalp burning. She managed to run out into the street and saw two police officers who took her to Clydebank police office.

After officers saw the full extent of Ms Wilson's injuries she was taken by ambulance to Glasgow's Western Infirmary and then transferred to the burns unit at the Royal Infirmary where a consultant plastic surgeon said that she would require skin grafts.

Mr Nicol added: "She also suffered a burn to her left arm which requires a skin graft. She is scarred and permanently disfigured, particularly around the crown of her head where the hair will never grow back and she now has a bald spot."

Lord Woolman deferred sentence for background reports until March at the High Court in Aberdeen. He also ordered a risk assessment of the danger McKinlay poses to the public.