Prison warning

A Coatbridge thug narrowly avoided prison after attacking his neighbour and a friend of his partner.

James Martin punched his male neighbour on the face before seizing his partner’s female friend by the hair, pulling her outside and punching her on the body during the assault outside his Argyle Gardens home.

Martin, 33, pled guity to assault.

Procurator fiscal Yolande Love told Airdrie Sheriff Court:“At 5am a neighbour saw the accused returning by taxi and extremely under the influence of alcohol.”

Martin started to shout and swear at him then punched him on the face.

“The complainer’s relative tried to stop the assault,”the fiscal said, “and managed to push the accused away so the door could be shut.

“The accused entered his own address and the female complainer was in the house along with the accused’s partner, who was in bed intoxicated.

“The accused grabbed the female complainer by her hair and forced her outside into the garden, where he punched her on the back. The accused then closed the door.”

Martin’s solicitor Darran Khorasani said his client was taking steps to address his alcohol issues: “He is extremely ashamed and embarrassed. He has stuck to the promise that he would stop drinking.

“He is in full-time employment and has largely been out of trouble since 2008.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri warned Martin:“I am persuaded, and only just, that I can deal with this very serious matter with a direct alternative to custody.”

He sentenced him to 165 hours of unpaid work, adding:“If you are in breach of the order then you know precisely what to expect.”