Buggy-pushing mum in street chase terror

A bottle-wielding thug who chased a woman as she pushed a baby buggy has been jailed for ten months.

The innocent woman had got caught up in a feud involving her brother and Thomas Kerr.

Kerr, 26, a prisoner, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted threatening or abusive behaviour in Merry Street, Motherwell, on July 29, 2019.

He also admitted possession of an offensive weapon, a Buckfast bottle.

Jennifer Cunningham, prosecuting, said the woman was walking with her brother about 4pm. There were two young children in the buggy.

The fiscal stated: “They noticed the accused hiding behind a tree. He was on the phone and could be heard saying ‘That’s them’.

“Kerr put down the phone and ran towards the witnesses.

“He pulled a glass bottle from his trousers, tried to break it and held it over his head.

“The witnesses ran away, with the mum still pushing her buggy.

“Kerr pursued them down the street, brandishing the bottle.

“A passer-by heard the woman screaming for help.

“When Kerr noticed the passer-by he put the bottle back in his trousers and ran away.”

Defence agent Marisa Borland said Kerr has mental health issues. He had taken alcohol and street valium on the day of this incident.

She told the court: “There was a previous issue with the man, but he accepts this would have been a frightening incident not only for him but for his sister. “He wishes to apologise.”

The court heard Kerr is serving a 27-month stretch for another matter and his earliest release date is August 24.

He won’t serve any extra jail time as the ten-month sentence was not made consecutive.