Fife man jailed over disturbance after lifting of alcohol ban

A Fife man who celebrated the lifting of an alcohol ban by going out drinking and causing a disturbance has been jailed.

Johnathan Nicol was arrested hours after leaving Dunfermline Sheriff Court with a community payback order.

Nicol, 31, of Briarlea, Kelty, had been ordered to carry out 225 hours’ unpaid work after an episode which ended with him biting a man.

He admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, acting in an aggressive manner, taking possession of a knife and threatening to stab the man at Briarlea on January 26.

He also admitted assaulting the man by attempting to hit him with a vacuum cleaner and then biting him on the arm.

Sentencing brought the lifting of a bail condition imposed on March 2 banning him from drinking alcohol.

After leaving court he went for a drink and later caused a disturbance.

Nicol admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly shouting, swearing and making threats of violence in Dunfermline High Street on May 31.

Depute-fiscal Dev Kapadia said Nicol had phoned the police to tell them he was having difficulty walking, and was staggering about in the street.

After a threat to “batter” a police officer, Nicol was arrested.

Solicitor Elaine Buist said: “He remembers little of the incident.

“When he left court his intention had been to go for a pint.

“It can be imagined that more than a pint was consumed.”

Sheriff Charles MacNair jailed Nicol for 100 days.