Rugby player admits to making violent threats at hospital

COURT: Sheriff tells him to keep his aggressive instincts for the pitch

A rugby player who made violent threats in a hospital after a run-in with his neighbours has been warned to keep his aggression on the pitch by a sheriff.

Craig Thoms – who played in a cup final at Murrayfield earlier this year – was initially charged with leaving his next door neighbour scarred for life by hurling plates at him.

At Perth Sheriff Court, the 25-year-old Blairgowrie RFC player admitted acting aggressively and making threats of violence at Perth Royal Infirmary and outside his home on June 4 this year.

Thoms, of Ashgrove Terrace, Perth, who featured in the BT Bowl final in April as Blairgowrie lost to Portobello, was ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and placed under supervision for 12 months.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “It is probably best that you confine whatever aggression you have to the rugby pitch and within the laws of the game.

“You have an accruing record which doesn’t show any signs of slowing. It is important that you begin to realise that if you continue coming to the attention of the court, you will end up in custody.

“It is probably best that you learn about your relationship with alcohol and that it is something you need to address. Otherwise you will continue to end up in court on alcohol-related offences.

“It will continue to impact on your family, your friends and your rugby team.”

Thoms was not found guilty of other charges, including causing severe injury and permanent impairment to neighbour Stephen Johnstone during a fracas involving plate throwing.

He was also found not guilty of punching another man, John Johnstone, and knocking him to the ground before punching him again.

Thoms has previous convictions, including an assault where he knocked a man down with a single punch outside a pub during a drunken argument.

On that occasion he was fined £400 and ordered to pay victim Jamie Robertson £100 compensation.

Solicitor Mike Tavendale told the court the incident was “out of character” and Thoms had sought anger management counselling after carrying out the attack.

It is important thatyou begin to realise that if you continue coming to the attention of the court, you will end up in custody