Anniversary rammy

COURT REPORTER

A man suffered a serious facial injury when violence flared after a family’s wedding anniversary celebration.

The trouble began when Calum Clark couldn’t find his cigarettes, Hamilton Sheriff Court,pictured, heard last week.

Clark, 26, of Mcmillan Street, Larkhall, admitted assaulting his step-sister’s partner to his severe injury.

He also admitted punching his own partner and shoving his mum.

The court heard the family were celebrating at his mum’s home, Glen Avon Cottage in Larkhall, on June 25 last year.

At one point Clark asked his partner if she had his cigarettes.

She said she didn’t and he became“irate”as he searched for them.

One witness described him as being“nippy”.

His partner then told the accused she was not going home that night and would stay at his mum’s house. She began to walk away and he punched her on the face, causing her to fall.

Mr Corr had left the party and was in bed at home nearby when he heard a commotion outside.

His step-sister’s partner got up and went outside to find the woman with an injury to her eye.

Clark approached and swung a punch, knocking the other man to the ground.

Clark was restrained by another family member and the police were called. The court heard that the injured man was so badly hurt doctors offered him surgery to rebuild his cheekbone, but he refused.

Clark’s partner declined treatment.

Defence agent Elspeth Forrest said Clark was“at a loss as to what happened” but accepted he had “overreacted”to events.

Sheriff Thomas Millar deferred sentence until next month for background reports and an electronic tagging assessment.