Violent lout battered mum’s pal in cigs row
A son has dodged jail after he attacked his ill mum’s pal in a row over cigarettes.
Christopher McDowall, 29, pummelled April McNaughton, 39, after she ignored his demands to stop supplying his mum with ciggies because she had a lung condition.
He has been placed under supervision — 13 months after he attacked the woman.
McDowall earlier admitted the assault at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Tom McCartney warned authorities would keep a close eye on him.
He said: “I have decided that I will deal with this matter by way of a Community Payback Order as a direct alternative to prison.
“You mus t a t t e n d a l l appointments and follow the directions of your supervising officer.”
McDowall attacked his victim in her own home after confronting her online.
The thug sparked an argument after bawling: “I told you not to give my mum any smokes.”
He then hit 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.
Prosecutor David McDonald told how McDowall stormed into her house before pouncing on August 4, 2017.
He said: “Ms McNaughton was at home, sitting on the couch, watching television and spotted McDowall standing in the doorway of her living room.”
McDowall took to social media to tell the woman to stop giving cigarettes his COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) sufferer mum Shona Young, 47.
Her condition causes breathing difficulties and is common in those who smoke.
Ms McNaughton regularly visited her friend to take her groceries and medicine.
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 arrested and claimed he had been at his mum’s before getting a taxi to Renfrew.
Defence lawyer Robert Kerr revealed his client has since been offered a job with a brickwork company.
He says a family friend had asked him to join his company in a bid to get him back on his feet.
Kerr claimed McDowall had been suffering from mental health problems.
Sentencing had been deferred on the case for McDowall to be of good behaviour.
But, when it called in January, it emerged he had assaulted someone else.
He was placed on a home curfew and ordered to come back at a later date.
McDowall had been accused of knifing the woman and sending her threatening Facebook messages.
But these charges were dropped. Defence lawyer David Tod had admitted his client was already being monitored by the court when he lashed out.
McDowall, of Todholm Terrace, Paisley, will return to the dock for a review.