Garden rammy thug is jailed
A Hamilton dad who got involved in a row with two men in his garden has been jailed for almost a year.
Kenneth Mcmahon was seen trying to strike the ‘visitors’ with a metal hinge.
Mcmahon, 46, was sentenced when he appeared from custody via videolink at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour in Bute Street and Margaret Road on February 1.
Jennifer Mclaren, prosecuting, said neighbours watched from their windows as the confrontation unfolded on a Saturday lunchtime.
She told the court : “Two men arrived by taxi and attended at Mcmahon’s address.
“He went out to his front garden and there was a heated argument.
“Mcmahon reached into his trousers and pulled out a black metal object that was, in fact, a hinge from a garden gate.
“He brandished this object over his head and swung it towards the two men. They dodged the blows and no contact was made.
“The accused ran a short distance from his garden, still in possession of this object, then returned to his property.
“The police were contacted and arrested Mcmahon at his home.”
Defence agent Elspeth Forrest said dad of two Mcmahon had started a new relationship and argued with his new partner on the day of this incident.
Mrs Forrest told the court: “This woman is the sister of the two men who arrived at his house later that day.
“Mr Mcmahon had taken valium and that altered his judgment.
“He went outside and took this hinge from a fence he was building.
“He is embarrassed at his behaviour and wishes to apologise to his neighbours.
“Until recently he worked full time for a builder, but he lost his job and fell back into his old ways, taking drugs and drinking.”
Sheriff David Young noted that Mcmahon had previous convictions for assault and possession of a knife, but accepted he hadn’t been in trouble since 2013.
Mcmahon was jailed for 48 weeks, backdated to February 19 to take account of time already spent in custody.