Lout lost the plot with his childhood sweetheart
Drugged-up yob kicked off
A Paisley man has avoided jail after pushing his highschool sweetheart against a shop’s shelving display.
Jamie Keegan was taking street Valium which led to him being convinced his partner was up to no good.
In May last year, he decided to confront her in Paisley’s Tannahill Centre which resulted in him assaulting her.
The 23-year-old went onto throw a chair and threaten to set his girlfriend’s house on fire.
Once arrested, the brute was held in custody to appear at court – the same day he was released on bail, he breached his court order.
Procurator fiscal depute Andrew Brown told Paisley Sheriff Court that Keegan’s partner, Megan Mullen, was with her friend Ms Hagerty at the Tannahill Centre on Wednesday, May 4 when he entered and kicked off.
Mr Brown explained: “Keegan entered, causing the witnesses to remove themselves and head to the Keystore shop within the centre.
“Keegan followed them into the store and confronted Ms Mullen.
“Mullen tried to get away from the accused, however, he pushed her against the store shelving.
“Mullen and Hagerty managed to remove themselves from the shop after being told to do so by the shopkeeper.
“A short while later, while Mullen and Hagerty were sitting in the cafe being comforted by friends, the accused returned and was shouting and demanding to speak to Ms Mullen.
“The friends of Mullen attempted to keep the accused away which angered him further and he continued to shout and attempted to throw a chair in anger while saying, ‘I want to talk to you, come outside.’
“Keegan then left while shouting, ‘I’m away to set the house alight.’ Due to this, police were contacted and attended.”
The court heard Keegan had made off by the time cops arrived. Officers viewed CCTV at the centre which captured the whole incident.
Police attended at a property in Darkwood Drive after reports Keegan was in the street.
Mr Brown added: “Mullen informed police Keegan didn’t have access to her property and an area search was carried out.
“Two officers attended at Mullen’s property for her to collect some belongings. On entering her bedroom, she observed Keegan within and she ran out. Keegan was handcuffed and escorted from the property.
“While being cautioned, the accused stated, ‘Was it that f ***** g cow that told you? If she was alone, she wouldn’t be breathing now.’”
The court heard Keegan was released on bail with a curfew to remain in his home between 8pm and 6am each day.
However, when cops attended at his property in Ferguslie Park Avenue at 11pm to check if he was complying with his curfew, they discovered he wasn’t in.
Defence agent Charlie McCusker told the court Keegan and Mullen had been in a relationship right up until this incident since they were 12.
Mr McCusker explained his client had used cocaine and suffered burns as a result of a work accident involving a skip fire.
“He regrets his conduct and he is embarrassed by his behaviour particularly to someone he was so close to,” he added.
Sentencing, Sheriff Gillian Craig said: “I’m sure hearing the facts narrated, nine months after the event, you can appreciate how alarming that would have been. You’ve spent seven months in remand and I sincerely hope the events last May were simply a blip and you can move on with your life.”
Sheriff Craig placed Keegan under supervision of the social work department for 18 months and ordered he carries out 180 hours of unpaid work in the community.
In addition, a nonharassment order was imposed prohibiting Keegan from approaching or contacting Ms Mullen for two years.
A review hearing was fixed for April 13.