Thug given unpaid work for threats in family home

A 2 4 - ye a r - o l d Townhead man has been given 100 hours of unpaid work after becoming abusive in the family home.

Daniel Fagan pleaded guilty to verbally abusing his mother and striking another family member in the face after demanding money for a taxi on October 16 last year.

He arr ived at the property in Greenhill under the influence of alcohol at around 7.15pm and looking for cab fare.

When his mum declined his demands, he began calling her a “slut” and a “cow”, before briefly leaving the house.

His mother saw him standing in the garden holding a bottle which he threw in her direction, before re- entering the house and falling asleep in the living room.

When he awoke three hours later Fagan picked up from where he left off, threatening to “batter everyone in the house” if his mother didn’t phone him, and pay for, a taxi.

A fellow family member asked Fagan, who has an extensive criminal record, to calm down and refrain from the abuse but received a slap to the face.

Fagan then tried to make his way across the landing to another family member’s house but found his mother’s front door locked.

He punched the glass on the door causing it to smash and, at this point, his mother handed him a sum of money to get him out the house.

She contacted police and he was subsequently detained.

Fagan was cautioned, charged and detained in custody at Coatbridge police office and in response to his charges said “didn’t happen” and “it’s a joke”.

Despite this, his defence solicitor Stephen Fagan told the court: “My client now has accepted full responsibility for his actions.

“He is a head chef who works six days a week and, although he has previous convictions, I think he may benefit from an alternative to custody.”

Sheriff Morag Galbraith concurred and told Fagan: “I am just persuaded that there is another way to deal with this but only by a very fine margin.

“Your record is becoming such that every time you appear here prison will be considered.

“I am ordering 15 months of supervision and 100 hours of unpaid work to completed within the next six months.

“If you do not comply you know exactly what to expect.”