A 58-YEAR-OLD man has been fined £500 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after striking a woman on the head with a guitar.

 Simon Rooney, from Whitley Bay, had been on holiday with the woman and staying at a cottage near Cockburnspath on July 24.

But they fell out during a drinking session and after she made a comment about his ex-wife, he swung the guitar at her striking her on the head causing a bump to appear.

Rooney pleaded guilty to a charge of assault to injury.

Depute fiscal India McLean said the guitar smashed into pieces after the assault.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme explained they had began arguing over the choice of music, and he had removed himself to another room.

But when he returned holding the musical instrument, a comment was made and he swung it at her "in the heat of the moment".

In addition to the £500 fine, Rooney has been ordered to pay a £40 victim surcharge.

He has also been banned from contacting the woman for two years.