Court hears Claggan man held bar stool over head

A sheriff told a Claggan man that some of the hours of unpaid work he must do after admitting charges involving a breach of the peace and making abusive remarks to police officers, is for shouting offensive remarks about people with a disability.

Sean Thomas Laskey, 29, of Carn Dearg Road, appeared at Fort William Sheriff Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to two charges.

These were that on April 15 last year, at an establishment in Fort William's High Street, he had committed a breach of the peace in that he behaved in a disorderly manner by throwing a glass which smashed; shouted and swore and raised a bar stool over his head.

Laskey further admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by making abusive remarks to police officers.

Procurator Fiscal Ross Carvel told the court the incident had been sparked when drink had been spilled by Laskey and others with him. ‘The accused was asked to leave as a result. His friends accepted that and left but the accused began questioning this and became irate,' said Mr Carvel.

‘He stepped to the side and threw a glass over the bar which hit a wall and smashed. He then began shouting and swearing as he walked towards the exit.

‘It was at this point he picked up a bar stool and held it above his head. A member of staff and one of the other patrons managed to remove the stool from him and pushed him out into the High Street. Police were contacted and the accused was traced 20 minutes later to [another bar], where he was arrested and handcuffed by police officers.'

Mr Carvel added Laskey had then been threatening and abusive towards the officers and continued that behaviour at the town's police station.

In mitigation, defence agent Gerry Sweeney told the court that on viewing CCTV footage from the first establishment, the glass had not been thrown but simply moved and then dropped.

‘But nonetheless the offence had taken place,' he conceded.

‘There was extensive inebriation on Mr Laskey's part. He had been deeply involved with alcohol abuse at that stage of his life,' said Mr Sweeney.

‘He is ashamed and disgusted by his behaviour on this occasion, as he surely should be, over the remarks made to the police officers.

‘He is now banned from every pub in the town. As these are quite antiquated cases, this is an aspect which has perhaps actually helped Mr Laskey in tackling his alcohol issues.'

Sentencing Laskey to carry out 104 hours of unpaid work, Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald added: ‘A total of 20 of these hours are for shouting at people with a disability and this is a direct alternative to custody.'

Laskey will make a another appearance at the town's court in March on separate charges.