COURT CASEBOOK Spat in face at family gathering

A thug who spat in a woman’s face during a “family gathering”in Airdrie has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Steven McKnight, 25, behaved in a threatening or abusive manner on November 2 last year in two houses in Commonhead Avenue.

He acted in an aggressive manner towards his partner by shouting and swearing, and then smashed his own car window.

He later repeatedly kicked and punched a porch door – causing it to break – and made offensive remarks to a woman; he then assaulted her by spitting on her face.

Prosecutor Agnes

Meek told Airdrie Sheriff Court:“The incident happened at 1.15am during a family gathering.

“McKnight was subsequently traced by police and arrested. He made no reply.”

McKnight’s lawyer said: “It is a good report. He takes full responsibility for his actions.

“He has shown remorse and would like to apologise for the distress he caused.

“He has no outstanding matters and presents as a low risk of re-offending. There was damage to the property of £450 and he has made repayment.”

Sheriff FergusThomson told McKnight:“These were serious matters and could have been dealt with by custody, but I will deal with them by way of a non-custodial disposal.”

McKnight, of Ayrshire, was put on a community payback order which included carrying out 90 hours of unpaid work within six months.

The sheriff told him this would have been 120 hours had he not pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.