“I’ll burn this house down”

A Coatbridge man who verbally abused his partner and threatened to burn her house down has been given unpaid work.

Colin Green, 52, was lifted on January 4 after a disturbance at his partner’s Wilton Street home.

The Witchwood Court resident appeared after spending the previous five weeks in custody after breaching bail conditions twice following the incident.

He was warned not to contact her during his bail period, but his refusal to listen to orders has resulted in 160 hours of unpaid work.

Describing the initial incident, the procurator fiscal said: “At around 11.30pm, the accused attended the locus, which is the home of his partner.

“He entered the property but shortly afterwards an argument ensued.

“He told her he was going to ‘burn this house down’ and called her a ‘f****** cow’.

“She called police and as they arrived outside the property they could hear the disturbance occurring within.

“They heard him threaten to kill her and also heard the complainer asking him to ‘leave her alone’.

“Officers entered the property and took the accused to Coatbridge police office where he was cautioned and charged.”

Green, who pleaded guilty to his actions, was released on bail but less than a week later, on January 11, he defied specific instructions given to him when he returned to the scene of the crime.

The fiscal continued: “At around 7.45pm she saw him standing in the front garden.

“He banged on the window and shouted ‘let me in for a heat’ and ‘I’m starving’.

“She called the police and when they arrived he made an immediate confession that he had breached his bail conditions.”

Green also returned to the Wilton Street property on February 2 and demanded his partner “open the f****** door” and labelled her a “f****** grass” for calling police.

Green’s defence solicitor argued: “My client has been in custody for five weeks.

“I’ve argued for this man and his partner for around 20 years and previous sheriffs have used the word dysfunctional to describe their relationship. “That is a true assessment. “They depend on each other. He needs her for everyday life and she needs him as she has difficulty with several physical functions.

“With regards to his breach of bail, he turned up looking to be let in to his partner’s property because he hasn’t had any electricity in his abode for a year due to having no money for an electricity meter.

“Drink is the catalyst in his offending and you can see that in his history.

“His partner wants the relationship to continue with him in a sober state.

“He’s spent five weeks in custody and that has allowed him to reflect on his problems which have troubled him for many years.”

Sheriff Petra Collins decided: “You will spend 18 months under supervision and must do as your officer tells you.

“For the breaches of bail, I will impose 160 hours of unpaid work and if you don’t apply yourself to this you will end up in jail.”

Intruder caught

A man who broke into an office block in Coatbridge has been given 150 hours of unpaid work.

Thomas McNicol was caught intruding into Kennedy House on Gartsherrie Road on May 31 last year.

He pleaded guilty to entering the property with intent to steal.

The 38- year- old, of the town’s Coltswood Court, will also be supervised for nine months as well as being hit in the pocket for the sum of £80.

Sheriff Petra Collins said: “I can deal with this today by way of an alternative to custody.

“You will carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next nine months.

“I have reduced this from 200 due to your plea.

“I am also imposing a period of supervision during the same time frame and you will pay £80 in compensation for damages.”

Benefits cheat

An Airdrie pensioner who swindled nearly £20,000 in benefits will return to court for sentencing next month.

Isaac McGowan, 69, pleaded guilty to deceiving the Department for Work and Pensions since November 2009.

He failed to notify them he had found paid employment, which would have affected his pension credit.

The Oban Place resident managed to claim £12,000 he wasn’t entitled to between then and September 2013.

On top of that, McGowan then spent another four years sneakily claiming another sum of money.

He admitted to failing to notify North Lanarkshire Council of a change in his employment circumstance that would have affected his housing benefit.

This resulted in him getting his hands on £7626 between September 2013 and February last year.

McGowan attended Airdrie Sheriff Court last week but Sheriff Petra Collins was forced to apologise for a lack of reports.

She said: “I’m sorry Mr McGowan but no reports are available today and this is the court’s fault.

“I’ll defer for the criminal justice social work file until a date that is suitable.”

McGowan will now return to court on April 11.

The accused told her he was going to ‘burn this house down’ and called her a ‘f****** cow’