Man beat up woman in fags row Victim had given cigarettes to his ill mum

A son battered his ill mum’s pal after she refused to stop supplying her with cigarettes.

Christopher McDowall, 28, pummelled April McNaughton, 39, after she ignored his demands to cut off the lung patient’s tobacco supply.

He marched round to her home after Facebook messaging her: “Stop giving my mum fags.”

During a hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, McDowall admitted attacking Ms McNaughton.

Prosecutor David McDonald told how he stormed into her house before pouncing.

He said: “Ms McNaughton was at home, sitting on the couch, watching television, and spotted McDowall standing in the doorway of her living room.”

The thug sparked an argument after bawling: “I told you not to give my mum any smokes.”

He then rained down blows on her head and body as she tried to defend herself.

McDowall legged it and she cleaned herself up in the bathroom at her home in Erskine’s Port Soy.

A pal later convinced her to call the police.

The court heard McDowall had warned his victim over social media to stop dropping cigarettes in to his COPD sufferer mum Shona Young, 47, weeks before the attack.

Her condition causes breathing difficulties and is common in those who smoke.

Ms McNaughton regularly visited her friend to bring groceries and medicine.

The thug uncovered the stash after stopping off at his mother’s on August 4.

Mr McDonald added: “He asked his mother where she got them and she said April McNaughton had been in.”

The yob lied to cops when he was lifted and claimed he had been at his mum’s before getting a taxi to Renfrew.

He had been accused of knifing the woman and sending her threatening Facebook messages. But these charges were dropped. Defence lawyer David Tod admitted his client was already being monitored by the court when he lashed out.

Sheriff Tom McCartney called for background reports and warned the brute he faces a stern punishment.

McDowall, of Todholm Terrace,