Brute smashed ex-partner’s window after row over child

Warning for yob who lost the plot

A raging yob smashed his expartner’s front window after she objected to him taking a young child to stay overnight at his home.

Mark McLatchie, 38, kicked off at the property in the town’s Foxbar on April 21, this year, when with his right hand, he “clenched his fist and struck the window where she was standing.”

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the woman, fearing for her safety and that of a youngster, quickly called the cops to report McLatchie, who left the scene after jumping into his car.

Procurator fiscal depute Kirsten Briarley said: “At around 11.30am on the day of the events, the accused attended at the address of the witness.

“The accused said he wished to have a child stay overnight.

“The youngster had explained they did not want to stay overnight with the accused.

“He became agitated. The witness asked him to calm down. He failed to do this and the witness closed the front door.

“The witness moved into the living room along with a child, and began speaking to McLatchie through the window.

“He remained agitated. The witness pleaded with him to attend his mother’s home nearby.

“He became more irate.

“With his right hand he clenched a fist and struck the window where she was standing, causing the outer glass pane to smash.

“This was in the presence of a child.” The court heard both witnesses were placed in a state of fear and alarm.

The woman called 999 to report him to police.

Yesterday, McLatchie of Renfrew appeared in the dock before Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill where he pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner towards his ex-partner and a young child, where he did strike a window causing it to break at their home.

Defence agent Charlie McCusker said his client had been left feeling upset that morning when he lost his temper and punched in the front window.

He said: “He accepts that he was upset. He hadn’t heard anything about the matter before.

“He now very much regrets his actions and causing upset to his expartner and the child.”

The lawyer added McLatchie had no wish to reconcile the relationship with his ex-partner and “fully accepts that his behaviour cannot be condoned.”

He added his client had been abusing cannabis but had now reduced how much of the drug he uses.

Sheriff Gill told him it was a “frightening experience” for his ex and the youngster.

She said: “This was erratic behaviour no doubt caused by your consumption of cannabis.”

She handed him a Community Payback Order by placing him under mandatory supervision of the local authority for 18 months.

He was also made subject to a Non Harrassment Order preventing him from approaching or contacting his ex partner for two years.

She warned McLatchie if he breaches the court’s orders, he is likely to be sent to jail.