Ex-cop loses cool at primary school graduation event

A former police officer who headbutted a fellow parent at a primary school graduation ceremony in Glenboig has been hit in the pocket for his“foolish behaviour”.

Airdrie Sheriff Court last week heard how Alan Rae, 37, lost his temper after he was called a“baldy p****”by a man with whom he held a“degree of animosity”.

Haulage business owner Rae, whose victim was a disgruntled former employee, pleaded guilty to his aggressive actions which his defence solicitor Paul Kelly described as,“not a headbutt, but a firm placement of the head”.

However, Sheriff Derek O’Carroll was left unimpressed by Rae’s conduct, which took place in Glenboig Primary’s assembly hall last June.

The procurator fiscal told the court: “At around 1.30pm the witness was waiting on the graduation ceremony to begin.

“The accused walked in past the witness and took a seat behind him.

“The witness then felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to hear the accused ask,‘What did you say?’

“The accused then headbutted the witness, leaving him shocked but without injury.

“The accused’s wife ushered him away towards the back of the hall and police were contacted.”

In mitigation, Mr Kelly explained: “There is history between these two.

“My client has a clear recollection of this incident and was called a‘baldy p****’as he walked past.

“He had just walked in and was in the vicinity of the complainer when the remark was made, leading to the headbutt.

“However, one man’s headbutt is another’s firm placing of the head and that’s what is stated in the reports.

“There was relatively little force although he realises it was foolish behaviour to react.”

Outlining the background to the unsavoury incident, he continued: “The history between them is of some significance.

“The complainer was hired in 2015 as a transport manager for the accused’s haulage business.

“It didn’t go well though and they thought he wasn’t pulling his weight in the job.

“They asked him to pull his socks up on several ocassions but he was eventually dismissed.”

He added:“That should have been the end of the matter but the complainer contacted the traffic commissioner and told lies about illegal operations taking place in the company.

“That led to an investigation which lasted some amount of time before being thrown out and badly affected my client’s mental health.”

Sentencing Rae, Sheriff O’Carroll told him:“You were a police officer for a long time and above all should know better than to behave like this.

“Any remark made to you does not justify your actions and neither does the history between you.

“What I find substantially disturbing is the location of this – you were at a primary school graduation!

“I accept the force was minimal but you do have a previous conviction and on balance, I will deal with this by way of a fine.

“You will pay £1000 within the next three months and that is reduced from £1300 because of your plea.”