Dad lost the plot in village store
A Cambuslang dad-of-three who had stopped drinking for three years left his partner and a pair of shop assistants terrified after a booze binge.
Scott Stevenson lost the plot with his girlfriend when she took his money off him to prevent him from being able to buy more alcohol.
The 34-year-old from Western Road in Cambuslang hadn’t touched drink since 2012 but fell off the wagon during the terrifying episode in Lomond Stores, Balloch, Loch Lomond, at around 11.30am on May 9 this year.
Stevenson appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last week after admitting behaving in an abusive and threatening manner, repeatedly shouting, swearing and demanding money from and attempting to seize the handbag belonging to his girlfriend, making aggressive gestures towards her and striking a glass door against a freezer.
Fiscal depute Carol Cameron told the court the pair entered the shop while arguing about money. She said: “Stevenson’s girlfriend was crying and shouting back at him. He was quite obviously drunk in their view and Stevenson began pulling and pushing at his girlfriend. He was repeatedly swearing. He was making aggressive gestures towards her, grabbing for her bag.
“The assistants in the shop were frightened for her safety and themselves frightened and upset at Stevenson’s aggressiveness towards his girlfriend.
“As their concern increased for the woman’s safety, one of the assistants decided to intervene and put herself between Stevenson and his girlfriend however his behaviour was simply continuing and that made the assistant frightened for her own safety.
“Stevenson began to bang the shop front door against a freezer unit which was behind it and the shop assistants were frightened that was going to smash the door. One of them shouted at Stevenson to get out of the store which he eventually did.”
Police were called by the shop assistants and caught up with him at nearby Balloch train station.
The fiscal depute continued: “There was a very strong smell of alcohol coming from him. He was cautioned and charged and he said ‘she brung this on herself. I’m going to have to finish this with her’.
“His girlfriend was still there or thereabouts and he continued shouting and swearing at her and, at that time, he shouted: ‘I have done f*** all. This is all your f****** fault. Get the f*** away from me.’”
Stevenson’s defence lawyer Bert Thomson told the court the couple had camped the previous night and intended to stay at a hotel in Balloch that evening to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.
The solicitor said: “Offences came to a halt in 2012. He hadn’t taken any alcohol between 2012 and this year this year and, in that time, he didn’t drink and, not coincidentally, he didn’t offend.
“This night he got drunk. His girlfriend had taken his money from him, put it in the bag and walked away from him. His girlfriend was entirely in the moral right. She was looking out for him but he didn’t see that at the time because of the drink taken.
“He accepts his behaviour was impulsive and reckless.”
Sheriff Craig Turnbull said: “You don’t have a good record and to have then behaved in this way with the responsibilities you now have with these young children was irresponsible to say the least.”
Stevenson was placed on a community payback order and will be under supervision for two years. He must also carry out 160 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.