Deferred sentence for drinker who came late to the police’s attention

An Angus man who came late to a criminal career has been given a good behaviour order after a barrage of incidents that got him thrown out of his Arbroath housing complex.

Grant Martin appeared before Sheriff Jillian MartinBrown at Forfar where he admitted that between June 19 and 25 he behaved in a threatening manner, shouted and swore and pointed his finger in the face of staff at premises in North Grimsby, Arbroath.

Depute fiscal Stewart Duncan said the accused had been resident there since February and told the court of a string of incidents, starting with a 6pm offence on June 19 when 62-year-old Martin was seen shouting and swearing in the courtyard of the complex.

At 4am the following morning he then entered the main office, banged the door and shouted at the on-duty member of staff.

Further incidents took place, and on June 20 Martin was warned several times about his behaviour and drinking in the courtyard, which is not allowed.

Later that evening he pointed his finger directly at a staff member, telling them: “Don’t tell me what to do.”

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said: “It is an unusual record in that it only begins from 2015 when he was turning 60.

“Since he was released on undertaking for this he was arrested for another offence and sentenced to 20 days in prison.”

“It is early days, but he is now receiving support and has joined Alcoholics Anonymous.

“It is nuisance behaviour rather than anything else.”

Martin, now of Strathmore Avenue, Forfar, had sentence deferred for four months to be of good behaviour.