Lawyer: Trouble came to his door

New Year revellers at a Wishaw house were under siege when unwelcome guests turned up, a lawyer has claimed.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that Kieran Leggat was hit on the head with a bottle and a window of the Pentland Road property was smashed.

But Leggat, 22, ended up in the dock after confronting the gatecrashers with a knife.

He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour on January 1.

Jennifer McLaren, prosecuting, said a neighbour heard a commotion about 9am and looked outside to see Leggat shouting, swearing and brandishing a kitchen knife.

Police officers arrived and found him sitting in the kitchen. He had a cut behind his ear and was taken to hospital for treatment before being charged.

Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said Leggat, of Bellshill, had gone to his former partner’s home where they and some friends celebrated New Year.

He told the court:“Other individuals who weren’t invited or welcome turned up and tried to gain entry.

“As a result of this, Mr Leggat was hit on the head with a bottle. He sustained an injury that required five stitches. “A window was smashed with a bottle. “My client should have shut the door and called the police, but foolishly went out with the knife in an attempt to frighten people.

“It was the wrong thing to do, but he didn’t seek trouble that day – trouble came to his door.”

Dad of one Leggat was on a community payback order at the time of the offence.

Sheriff Alasdair McFadyen said he had a“short but significant”criminal record.

This included a High Court sentence when he was only 16.

Leggat was jailed for 14 months, reduced from 20 months because of his guilty plea.

The sentence was backdated to January 3 as he has been held in custody since his arrest.