Thug assaulted his brother

A thug went on a foul-mouthed rant while holding a knife and assaulted his own brother in a terrifying tirade, a court heard last week.

Aggressive Kevin Clarke will now be under supervision after striking his stunned sibling on the head during a confrontation at a property on Aitkenhead Avenue in Kirkwood.

The 29- year- old’s potentially dangerous actions on May 31 continued when he shouted and swore with the blade in his hands.

Police were called to the scene and Clarke was placed under arrest before being charged with assault and threatening and abusive behaviour.

Clarke, who lives in Fauldhouse, admitted both charges at Airdrie Sheriff Court and a period of deferral was ordered for criminal justice social work reports.

He made his way back to court last Wednesday, when, through defence solicitor John McGeechan, he apologised for his behaviour and admitted he had “placed himself in a difficult position”.

But Sheriff Petra Collins decided against any jail time for Clarke and told him: “I am going to impose a community payback order with supervision and this will be a direct alternative to custody.

“If you breach the order then you can be brought back here and sentenced all over again.” Clarke will be under supervision by the court for the next 18 months.

“Stand-up fight”in town centre

Brawling in Coatbridge town centre led to a violent Kirkshaws man being placed under supervision.

Ryan Paul “engaged in a stand-up fight” with an “unknown person” on the town’s Main Street on June 21.

The troubling confrontation was witnessed by stunned members of the public who called the police to the scene.

To make matters worse for foolish Paul, 26, he was also caught with a belt in his hands and officers charged him with possession of “an offensive weapon”.

Paul, of Loanhead Street, was taken into custody and later entered a guilty plea to both offences at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

A deferral was then ordered to allow for reports looking into his background before Paul returned for sentencing last week.

Defence solicitor Nicky Matteo told the court his client regretted his actions and appealed for a leniency and “community-based disposal” from Sheriff Petra Collins.

The sheriff decided to impose a community payback order on Paul that will see the brawler supervised for the next year, as a “direct alternative to a fine”.

Fine quickly turns to prison time

A Greenend chancer spent the last week behind bars after failing to cough up a fine – due to him being in custody for another offence.

Forgetful David Dillon must have enjoyed himself a little too much on Hogmanay last year as he failed to sign on at Coatbridge police office as scheduled.

The absent 23- year- old defied conditions ordering him to attend the Whittington Street venue between the hours of noon and 5pm “every Friday” in the process.

Dillon owned up to the breach and was placed under a community payback order as an alternative to prison time during a date at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

The Greenwood Crescent resident was back in the dock last week for a review of his order, but appeared from custody relating to another matter.

Due to his incarceration, Sheriff Petra Collins revoked Dillon’s court order and told him: “You will be fined £150.”

Defence solicitor Nicky Matteo then requested a “no time to pay” scenario as Dillon couldn’t pay up because of his imprisonment and Sheriff Collins sentenced Dillon to the alternative punishment of seven days in jail.

Drug assessment for wannabe thief

Sentencing on a would-be thief from Craigneuk has been further deferred to assess his suitability for court-ordered drug treatment.

George Mann twice botched attempts to steal from Monklands properties in less than two months earlier this year.

The destructive 40- year- old first smashed glass windows and tried to climb through them with “the intent to steal” from the Vapour Ohm Shop on Anderson Street, Airdrie, on April 14.

And that unsuccessful mission wasn’t enough to deter Mann from his wannabe criminal ways as he was then found in the curtilage of properties on Coatbridge’s Forgehill Crescent, where it was “inferred he intended to commit theft”, on June 26.

Maple Quadrant native Mann owned up to both charges and was originally due to be sentenced at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week after background reports were compiled.

However, Mann’s defence solicitor, Nicky Matteo, revealed that his client was suffering from drug issues and could be a “suitable candidate for a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO)”.

Sheriff Petra Collins adjourned sentencing on Mann for a drug assessment to be carried out and ordered him to return to the dock on August 16.

If you breach the order then you can be sentenced all over again – Sheriff Petra Collins