Thug avoids jail over attack

A vicious thug who attacked two cops – spitting on one of them – plus another male in Airdrie on the same day last year has narrowly avoided jail time.

Crazed Brian Cowie’s rampage took place on October 4, 2015 and began with him punching and kicking the man on the head outside a Stirling Street nightclub.

He was arrested and taken to Coatbridge police office, where he turned his rage onto two officers.

Cowie, 40, punched one of the constables and then spat on the other before being remanded in custody.

He pleaded guilty to all three assaults and returned for sentencing at Airdrie Sheriff Court following a deferral for reports.

Procurator fiscal Susan Campbell told the court : “The accused was on a night out. At 12.20am, there was an altercation which involved the accused.

“The parties were separated but the accused ran back to confront the witness. A physical altercation took place and the accused punched the witness, who fell to the ground. The accused then kicked him.

“Police attended and the accused was taken to Coatbridge police office.

“Police witnesses later entered the accused’s cell and he punched the officer to the right side of his face. He also spat through the cell’s open latch.”

Defence solicitor Paul Belardo then spoke on Cowie’s behalf: “He was originally based in this area but now hails from Lockerbie.

“He was on a night out and there was a verbal altercation.

“His position is that the witness started it. Mr Cowie was in the company of others, including his mother, and he claims the witness said he was going to pull a knife on him.

“He is doing things to get his life back on track. He is in a position to carry out unpaid work and I don’t think supervision would do him any harm.”

A visibly unimpressed Sheriff Frank Pieri warned Cowie: “You are in territory here where a custodial sentence is very much a reality.

“I am just – and only just – persuaded not to impose this on you today.

“I will instead impose a community payback order as a direct alternative to custody of 190 hours’ unpaid work.

“This is reduced from 200 [hours] due to your plea and you will have six months to do it.

“If you are in breach of the order, then you know what to expect.”