Lout forced his way into 89-year-old’s home demanding cash

A grown man is facing jail for attacking his elderly granddad during a drunken late- night rampage.

Ross Docherty, 32, shoved John Ward, 89, as he tried to get him and his wife to give him money after trying to kick his way in to their Gowanbank Gardens home in Johnstone.

He struck the pensioner with such force that he was left motionless on the floor after falling in to a table and breaking it.

The details emerged this week when Docherty, of Cartside Avenue, in Johnstone, appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to admit his guilt over the unprovoked attack.

He pleaded guilt to assaulting Mr Ward by pushing him on the body, causing him to fall against the table.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Pamela Flynn said the incident took place around 11.50pm on April 12 at the Wards’ flat.

She explained: “One of the other householders in the block heard her buzzer going.

“She answered it and heard a male voice state ‘It’s Bernadette’s son, can you let me in to my gran and papa’s?’

“Mr and Mrs Ward were in their home asleep.

“They became aware of someone buzzing their buzzer and kicking the front close door.”

Docherty got into the close and went to their door, where his grandfather answered, and he said: “I want my gran. Let me in.

Miss Flynn added: “Mr Ward refused access but his wife allowed the accused into the flat.

“The accused stated ‘I just want my gran’.

“The accused’s behaviour became more erratic and Mr Ward asked the accused to leave.

“At that point, the accused lunged towards Mr Ward and pushed him and caused him to lose his balance and fall on to a table in the hallway and, in turn, broke that table.”

A neighbour heard a commotion and went to see what was happening and, when they arrived at the Wards’ door, saw Mr Ward lying on his side on the floor motionless and Docherty standing near him.

Docherty said he wanted money and the neighbour offered him money for a taxi if he left the property.

Before the cab arrived, he was arrested by police officers answering a 999 call that had been made in relation to his rampage.

Defence solicitor Gemma Rathey said Docherty, an unemployed father- of- four, had struggled with an alcohol addiction, has mental health problems he is on medication for and receives state benefits.

She said he was now living with his sister and added: “The family simply wants to move on from this.”

Sheriff Tom McCartney said he could have caged Docherty over the attack, but opted to call for background reports to be prepared and for prosecutors to find out how the assault has affected Mr Ward.

As he did so, the sheriff said: “An incident of violence towards an elderly person may have a significant psychological impact.”

Docherty could be caged for as long as 12 months when he returns to the dock next month to learn his fate.