Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Man breached order to give ex birthday gift
A Coatbridge man claimed he breached a court order because he wanted to deliver birthday gifts to his ex-partner.
Francis Dirkie’s plea failed to impress as a sheriff who jailed him for a year at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week.
Dirkie, 44, of Barrowfield Street, admitted threatening or abusive behaviour at the woman’s home on February 21.
He also admitted breaching bail conditions forbidding contact by going to her new address on March 19.
The court heard Dirkie was“severely under the influence of alcohol”on the first occasion.
He became aggressive, ordered his ex-partner to open the front door, called her an offensive name and said:“get your brothers down and I’ll kill them.”he also kicked the door.
Dirkie was arrested over that incident, but given bail. On March 19 he had again been drinking and went to the second address. The woman wouldn’t let him in and told him through the letterbox that he was breaching his bail conditions by being there. The police were then contacted.
Defence agent Rowan Myles said Dirkie has a serious alcohol problem that has affected his health and his relationship with his long time partner.
The solicitor said his client had gone to her home on March 19 with presents for her 40th birthday. At first there was no problem, but an argument developed.
Social workers assessed Dirkie as being at“high risk”of reoffending, but Mr Myles suggested a noncustodial sentence could be imposed.
However, Sheriff Fergus Thomson pointed out that the accused has previous convictions of a domestic nature.
Passing sentence, he told Dirkie:“i don’t think there is an alternative to prison. Being in custody and abstaining from alcohol will actually help you.”