Domestic lout must do unpaid work

A Salsburgh lout who behaved aggressively towards his partner has been sentenced to unpaid work – despite his victim claiming “the whole thing has been blown up out of proportion”.

Martin Mitchell narrowly avoided jail time for turning on the woman at his Dewshill Cottages home on June 13 by shouting and swearing at her.

Mitchell pled guilty to his foul-mouthed conduct, which marked the sixth time he had been charged relating to a“domestically aggravated”incident.

Background reports were then ordered on the heated 34-year-old, during which time Mitchell remained in custody, and he made his way back into the dock at Airdrie Sheriff Court from the cells last week.

Defence solicitor Rowan Myles revealed Mitchell had been remanded in custody for the “conclusion of these proceedings” and that Mitchell’s partner was “astonished”at the suggestion that Mitchell may have to be kept away from the property upon his release.

Mr Myles added:“She [Mitchell’s partner] has expressed if she knew he would end up in the cells, she would never have cooperated at all and that the whole thing has been blown up out of proportion.

“He had been out of trouble for a period of 18 months. He has six previous convictions for domestically aggravated matters.

“His family would wish him to return; his partner is entirely financially reliant on him.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri warned Mitchell he was close to remaining in custody for a longer period, telling him:“This was an extremely serious matter.

“However, bearing in mind you have been in custody for something like the equivalent of a four-month prison sentence, and your partner’s views, I will deal with this by way of an alternative to custody.

“I will impose a community payback order with 150 hours’ unpaid work, which I have reduced from 175 hours because of your plea, and you will have nine months to complete it.

“If you breach the order, you can be brought back here and you know what to expect.”