Terror attack in residental home

Violent outburst erupted after parking dispute

Two men have been sentenced after a parking dispute between businesses flared into violence.

Jamie Mckinnon and William Mortimer terrorised two couples when they burst into a Viewpark house.

A bedroom door was smashed in, George Maitland was whacked over the head with a car jack and petrified pal Stephen Mcquillan leapt from a first floor window to escape.

Mckinnon (33) of Armstrong Crescent, Tannochside, was jailed for 16 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Douglas Brown told him: “A person is entitled to feel safe in his own home. This was premeditated and in order to get to the victim, you broke down the door of a bedroom in which he was taking refuge.

“You assaulted him with a significant weapon in the form of a car jack and you have a significant record which includes being jailed for assault with a weapon.

“A substantial sentence is clearly appropriate here.”

Mckinnon admitted carrying out the assault at Maitland’s home in Mccracken Drive, Viewpark, on August 23 last year.

William Mortimer (42), of Dornie Drive, Carmyle, Glasgow, admitted threatening or abusive behaviour.

Sheriff Brown told him it was a “particularly serious example” of a public order offence and it was “finely balanced” whether or not he should be jailed.

But the sheriff added: “Reports suggest you are at low risk of reoffending, your record is not particularly significant and the character references I have seen are positive.”

Mortimer will be supervised for one year and must complete 270 hours of unpaid community work.

The sheriff also ordered him to pay £600 compensation to Maitland and £400 to Mcquillan, saying the men had suffered “considerable distress”.

Earlier Michael Macintosh, prosecuting, explained there was animosity between Maitland and Mcquillan, who were involved with a taxi firm, and Mortimer and Mckinnon who were associated with a plant nutrient business, Lanarkshire Hydroponics, now based in Hunter Street, Bellshill, but formerly in Viewpark.

The court heard there was dispute over parking spaces.

The taxi men were upstairs in Maitland’s home with their partners when they saw a group of males, including the two accused, outside.

The fiscal explained: “Mortimer and Mckinnon entered the house via the unlocked front door and ran upstairs

“The four occupants barricaded themselves into the bedroom. They could hear banging and shouting from the other side of the door as Mortimer and Mckinnon tried to force it open.

“Threats of violence were being shouted and Stephen Mcquillan was so alarmed that he jumped from the bedroom window to escape.

“At that point Mckinnon broke down the door with the car jack. Threats were made with reference to gangsters and the IRA, and Mckinnon struck Maitland on the head with the car jack.

“The women were screaming and a begging for the accused to stop and leave.

“Eventually both accused made off but police officers en route to the property stopped them.

“Having jumped from the window, Stephen Mcquillan returned to the house. He was shaking and crying, and unable to breathe, but he did not require treatment. Maitland had an injury to his head, but no hospital treatment was needed.”

Stephen Grady, for Mckinnon, said his client’s alcohol abuse had led to him getting into trouble, but he has joined AA and has not had a drink for 10 months.

Grady insisted Mckinnon had not gone armed to the house but had picked up the car jack in Maitland’s garden.

Edward Targowski QC, representing Mortimer, said his man had been assaulted by Maitland and Mcquillan the day before and had gone to the house simply to speak to them.

He added: “His co-accused picked up the car jack. That wasn’t part of the plan as far as he was concerned. His offending history is minimal.”