Assault after Buckfast row

Victim forgot to buy bottle at shop

A man who breached a harassment order and then assaulted a woman in her Wishaw home has been put under supervision.

Mark Mcquade appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week to be sentenced after being convicted of approaching the woman while she was at her home in Stenton Crescent on August 6 last year.

The 35- year- old, of Woodside Crescent, Newmains, pushed her on the body which caused her to fall against a wall.

Mcquade then pulled a necklace from her neck.

A claim that Mcquade seized the woman by the body, pinned her against a wall and seized her by the neck was dropped by The Crown.

The accused was also cleared of behaving in a threatening manner likely to cause alarm in Stenton Crescent by shouting and swearing at the woman, refusing to leave her home when asked and demanding she supply him with alcohol and cigarettes.

The court heard that the victim had gone to a shop to buy alcohol but had forgotten to get a bottle of Buckfast.

Mcquade reacted angrily, pushing her which caused her to hit the wall. The accused then grabbed her necklace with the victim suffering a cut to her neck.

It was said in court the woman was “trembling in fear” as she contacted police and Mcquade was arrested.

After he was charged, Mcquade replied: “How can pulling something off someone’s neck be assault?”

Defence solicitor Ian Scott told the court his client had a strong work ethic and was a carpet-fitter to trade.

The court was told that Mcquade had come to the attention of the court primarily because of alcohol.

“He is horrified that he has assaulted this woman,” said the solicitor.

“He accepts responsibility for what happened.

“He has been remanded in custody since August – the equivalent of a fourmonth prison sentence.”

Sheriff Douglas Brown took into account the amount of time Mcquade had spent in custody awaiting sentence.

He put Mcquade on a community payback order with a nine-month supervision.

The accused was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.