Ripped belt off for weapon

An Airdrie man who took off his belt and threatened to use it as a weapon in a local petrol station has been fined.

Stephen Rafferty lost his cool in the BP garage, Carlisle Road, on September 21 this year.

The 38- year- old acted in a threatening and abusive manner during his outburst during which the Parkhead Lane resident shouted, swore and placed people in a state of fear and alarm.

However, pleading guilty to the use of his belt as a potential weapon is what led Sheriff Petra Collins to throw down a heavy fine.

Rafferty’s defence solicitor Nicky Matteo argued: “My client has an underlying drink problem.

“He knows it was out of order to behave the way he did.

“However, he is currently on a community payback order for a separate matter which is due to run until next July.”

Sheriff Collins concluded: “This was disgraceful behaviour and as such your fine will be of some significance.

“You will pay £ 300 which I have reduced from £450 due to your plea of guilt.”

Wrong reports

A Moodiesburn man will have to wait before having his fate sealed at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Mark Gourlay, 38, had his sentence deferred after there was a mix-up with a necessary report. The Westdale Drive resident was due to be sentenced for assaulting a man in the village’s Arnprior Gardens on January 20 this year.

However, inaccurate criminal justice social work reports meant that Sheriff Morag Shankland was unable to pass judgement on Gourlay, who was found guilty after trial.

Gourlay’s defence solicitor explained: “My client’s criminal justice social work report has a few issues.

“He contacted the social work department last week as he hadn’t received an appointment.

“Somehow his name had been missed on the system but he went in to complete the report anyway.

“It was all a bit of a rush and doesn’t fit with the previous report.

“It certainly doesn’t match his current state anyway.

“He is living with his partner and three kids.”

The issues with the report, which were not specifically disclosed in the court room, prevented Sheriff Shankland from obtaining a rounded view of the accused’s situation.

She said: “I will not proceed to sentence on the basis of a report which is just not correct. Apologies Mr Gourlay, this isn’t your fault.

“I will need to defer sentence until a new report is prepared and it will need to be an accurate one.”

Barroom assault

A Greenend woman who struck an employee of a Coatbridge pub has been told to pay the penalty for her actions.

Sarah-Jane Neil slapped the stunned staff member before attempting to hit him with a glass at the Innishmohr pub on August 13 this year.

On the same night, Neil, 33, also assaulted her own partner by striking him on the head and throwing a set of keys in his direction.

Neil, who was appearing as a first offender, pleaded guilty to both charges as well as behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at her Southside Crescent home the following morning.

Her defence solicitor Nicky Matteo said: “The facts pretty much speak for themselves here.

“She is a first-time offender who has no previous record whatsoever.”

Sheriff Petra Collins enquired about Neil’s disposable income before ruling: “Your behaviour was appalling, although a custodial sentence or community-based disposal is not my first port of call for a 33-year-old first offender.

“I will deal with the three charges by way of fine.

“You will be fined a total of £ 260 which has been reduced from £340. “This will be payable at £10 per week. “An enforcement order is imposed which tells you what will happen should you fail to meet one of the payments.”

Abused officers

A young thug who assaulted a female police officer at Coatbridge police office has breached his community payback order.

Aaron Dymond, 21, was arrested after committing a spree of violent acts in his native Cumbernauld nearly two years ago on November 22.

Dymond was given a community payback order, the details of which weren’t disclosed in court, in April last year.

He was punished for making sexually abusive marks towards an officer before uttering racial abuse towards a constable within the Coatbridge premises.

He also kicked a female officer on the body during his meltdown.

Now Dymond must face the consequences for not adhering to the community-based disposal he was given.

His defence solicitor Mark Sloan said: “My client accepted his breach at the earliest opportunity on November 3.

“Although he has accepted this, he hasn’t been in trouble since being ordered it.

Sheriff Petra Collins said: “I am calling for a restriction of liberty assessment.

“You will return here for sentencing on December 6.”

This was disgraceful behaviour and your fine will be of some significance