Man ends up in dock after bakery bunfight

He assaulted woman after ‘shoplifting’ slur on his mum

A brute rained punches on a woman who accused his mum of stealing a sandwich from Greggs the bakers, a court was told.

Kevin Lafferty, 27, hit Myra Smart with a series of “uppercuts” after she accused Ms Joyce Gray of stealing the snack from the bakers, a claim Ms Gray flatly denied.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard mayhem erupted outside Greggs at Main Street in Barrhead when Ms Gray and Ms Smart exchanged words.

Fiscal depute John Penman said: “All parties know each other. The incident happened at Main Street in Barrhead.

“Ms Smart had been in the chemist’s shop next to Greggs the bakers when she made her way there at around 2.30pm on January 16.

“She said she witnessed shoplifting involving Ms Gray and decided to have a word with her.

“Not surprisingly, Ms Gray was unaware.

“Her son Kevin Lafferty got involved and assaulted Ms Smart while they were all out on the Main Street.

“A witness from Greggs described Ms Smart receiving ‘uppercuts’ to her face.

“She suffered, bleeding, swelling and redness to her lip.”

The court heard Lafferty, who has a previous conviction for vandalism involving a hammer, was traced and arrested later that day in Barrhead.

Yesterday he appeared in the dock where he pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Ms Smart by repeatedly punching her to her injury.

Ms Gray’s not guilty plea to stealing a sandwich from Greggs was accepted by the Crown and she was told she was free to go.

Defence agent Tony Callahan said: “His mother had been involved in an argument with the complainer.

“He intervened to separate the two of them when he crossed the line. He was drunk. He has previously served a custodial sentence.”

The lawyer added Lafferty, of Centenary Court in Barrhead, had recently completed an access course for an undergraduate degree at the University of Strathclyde involving education and social policy.

Sheriff Colin Pettigrew remanded Lafferty in custody while he called for background reports.

He said: “I am going to need reports into this matter.”

Lafferty will discover his fate when he appears at court on May 21.