Boss thumped director pal in car park with rolling pin
MIKE MCQUAID
An East Kilbride businessman was left needing stitches to a head wound after being battered with a rolling pin at a Christmas night out.
Company director Douglas McGavin was assaulted by William Plenderleith after a Boxing Day football match in December 2018.
Mr McGavin told Hamilton Sheriff Court how he tried to prevent a fight breaking out after fellow director Plenderleith told an employee that he was being sacked.
Plenderleith, of Stonehouse, denied assaulting his partner to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement, but the air conditioning boss was found guilty by a jury last week.
Sheriff Douglas Brown orderer him to pay his victim £2500 in compensation and complete 300 hours of unpaid community work.
The sheriff told him: “Consider yourself very fortunate that I’m not sending you to prison.”
Court heard how the company bosses had taken staff to see the
Rangers vs. Hibernian match at Ibrox as ‘a Christmas treat’.
After the match and hospitality, they continued drinking at Stonehouse Violet Social Club, near Plenderleith’s home.
Mr McGavin said there was “banter” between them, but the mood changed when Plenderleith told a staff member he was being sacked.
Plenderleith, 43, went to his house then returned to the social club car park.
Mr McGavin, who gave evidence from behind a screen, told prosecutor Vish Kathuria: “I thought Willie was going to start a fight.
“I ran towards the other guy to stop it. Willie pulled a rolling pin from his waistband and struck me on the head.
“He hit me repeatedly. I was trying to dodge him and he missed a few times. Willie was in a rage, but the other guy managed to get the rolling pin off him.
“Blood was pouring out of my face. I was in shock.”
Mr McGavin said he needed eight stitches to a 5cm cut to his forehead and also sustained bruising on his face which “swelled up like a balloon” in the days after the attack.
The father-of-two told the court that he still suffers anxiety attacks a year on.
He said Plenderleith had never apologised for his behaviour, but the men had agreed after the attack to finish outstanding jobs and end their business partnership.
Plenderleith claimed he acted in self-defence and said he needed staples in a head wound after the incident.
McGavin conceded that he had hit Plenderleith once after getting his hands on the rolling pin at one point, but insisted that his fellow director had started the trouble.
Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said Plenderleith has since paid Mr McGavin £10,000 for his share of the business.
The lawyer added: “He’s usually an upstanding member of the community, but there is an emphasis on alcohol at Christmas nights out and he let himself down badly.
“This night out ended in disaster.” Plenderleith was also given a 30-month supervision order.