A man assaulted and abused his girlfriend in the days before she killed herself.

Angus Milligan, 21, of Edinburgh, admitted choking and slapping 18-year-old girlfriend Emily Drouet.

Ms Drouet, who studied law at Aberdeen University, was found dead at her halls of residence just a week after the attacks in March last year.

Milligan admitted assault and threatening behaviour at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Ms Drouet's parents, Germain and Fiona, have described Milligan as an "animal" and have demanded for him to be sent to prison.

Mrs Drouet said: "This boy came into our beautiful daughter's life and, within a matter of months, he drove her to suicide.

"His actions were those of an animal and a bully and he has shown no remorse for what he did.

"Violence against women and girls is a hugely important issue and the sheriff needs to send out a clear message that his actions cannot and will not be tolerated."

Milligan admitted grabbing and choking Emily by the neck, pushing her against a desk and slapping her on the face.

He also used abusive and offensive language and sent offensive, indecent, obscene and menacing texts to Emily, who has a younger brother and sister.

Five other charges, including one alleging he attempted to choke her minutes before she killed herself, were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Mrs Drouet runs a clothing business in Glasgow while French-born Germain is a pilot with easyJet.

Neither has worked since Emily's death.

Mrs Drouet: "Angus Milligan showed no mercy to our daughter through his vicious and relentless campaign of abuse.

"Nothing will bring Emily back but we hope that he feels the full force of the law and that his sentence reflects the devastating consequences of his actions."

She said every day is torment for her family.

"We ache for Emily every second of every day," Mrs Drouet said.

"She has a little brother and sister who are are experiencing the kind of agony that no child should ever have to endure."

Emily and her boyfriend first met as first year students in Aberdeen University's Carnegie Halls of Residence.

Germain said the family will do everything they can to ensure Milligan is locked up.

He said: "This has devastated our lives and our family. Our daughter was physically and mentally destroyed by someone who, six months before, was a stranger to her.

"This is not how it's supposed to be. We still can't believe Emily isn't here.

"We can't comprehend why this should have happened to her and we intend to do everything in our power to ensure no other family has to endure what we are going through."

Milligan will be sentenced on July 5.