Boozed-up thug kicked cop

An Airdrie man who kicked a police officer after failing to provide a breath sample has avoided a prison sentence.

Craig Donaldson, 38, was seen “with glazed eyes” while at a drivethrough in Coatbridge on July 29.

When police arrived to speak to him, the Torriden Court resident became aggressive, which led to his arrest.

Officers were also able to smell alcohol from the accused, who pled guilty to his charges at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

While at Coatbridge police office, he repeatedly kicked a female officer after refusing to calm down.

The procurator fiscal said: “In the early hours of the morning, a number of people were working at the locus which is near the drivethrough.

“The accused was at the drivethrough and was ordering food, but it was observed he was slurring his words and he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol with glazed eyes.

“Police were called and he was found a short distance away.

“He was agitated and officers were able to smell alcohol from him.

“He shouted “f*** off” at the officers and was then taken back to the drive-through, where he continued to act aggressively.

“He was eventually arrested and taken to Coatbridge police office.”

The fiscal went on: “His aggression continued at the police office and he was restrained for officer safety purposes.

“He then kicked an officer in the shin and was told to calm down, but he then kicked the officer again. “He refused to be co-operative.” Donaldson’s defence solicitor Mark Lutton said: “There’s an acknowledgement of the link between alcohol consumption and his offending.

“He’s assessed as a medium risk in terms of re-offending.

“He has no recollection of this and says his head is ‘everywhere’ due to mental health issues.

“He recognises the inappropriate conduct with his tendered plea.

“There’s an alternative to custody in my view as he’s fit for unpaid work and suitable for a restriction of liberty order.”

Sheriff Morag Shankland said: “You’ll be under an 18-month community payback order which will include alcohol counselling.

“You must complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the next nine months too. I’ll fix a review for three months’ time, during which I will take a look at up-to-date reports.

“This is as an alternative to custody. If any other matters arise you’ll be sent to jail.”

Order variation

An Airdrie woman who was given unpaid work for being found in possession of a knife will find out if the order can be varied later this month.

Angela Miller, 26, was found in the curtilage of a refuge centre in Dumbarton last December.

She entered a guilty plea to being there without authority and to carrying a knife.

She was given 300 hours of unpaid work to carry out but she appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court last month in an attempt to have the order varied on medical grounds.

However, Sheriff Morag Shankland said: “At that level of unpaid work it was an alternative to custody.

“I’m not just going to revoke 300 hours of unpaid work.

“I’ll consider this myself and I hope the medical confirmation will tell me she can do the hours because I’m not very impressed with the application to take those hours away.

“I’ll defer for medical evidence until September 19.

“I’ll also call for a restriction of liberty order assessment and an up-to-date criminal justice social work report.”

Jail time

An Airdrie man appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court after being given time to behave well.

But Thomas Murray, 32, ended up appearing from custody after being jailed during that time frame.

The Parnell Street resident was due to face punishment for breaching a non-harassment order last August.

But he was put behind bars in April after being caught with an offensive weapon.

His defence solicitor said: “This was deferred for good behaviour but his status has changed.

“He was sentenced in April to 14 months, backdated to February, in relation to carrying an offensive weapon.

“He’s due to be released in September.”

Sheriff Morag Shankland said: “I want this on record and although it had nothing to do with the lady in charge one, I’m still going to give you a jail sentence.

“You’ll serve 50 days which will be backdated so that it doesn’t affect your liberation date.”

Sectarian remarks

A sectarian yob who admitted to making remarks based on religious prejudice has been given the chance to behave before sentencing.

Joseph McCafferty, 53, behaved in a threatening and abusive manner at his home address on Kenilburn Avenue in April.

Sheriff Morag Shankland said: “Given your record I will defer this for another two months to see how you make progress.

“There was religious prejudice in these comments so I want to see you back here on November 8.”

It was observed he was slurring his words and he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol