The sniggering serial abuser of women, comedian John David McDade, blew kisses as he was led into the dock in Airdrie Sheriff Court yesterday.
It didn’t take the sheriff long to wipe the smile off his face.
Not only did Sheriff Derek O’Carroll judge that McDade should go down for a lengthy jail sentence, he told him the that the offences he had been convicted of were “extremely serious” and banned him from contacting his two victims in any way for 20 years.
The message has to be made loud and clear – EU citizens are welcome here
The coercive and violent behaviour heard in evidence ensures that McDade will be in jail for a long time.
But the extraordinarily long non-harrassment order the sheriff also imposed sends out a clear message that the age of continued manipulation of victims by the tormenters is over.
The law will come down on McDade’s head long after his release if he goes anywhere near the women he abused. That is an sentencing example for others to follow.
Sharp problems
Worringly, new figures show the number of teenagers carrying knives to school is on the rise, despite a crackdown.
There have been a string of knife incidents in Scotland’s schools – although, thankfully, the country is not in the grip of the stabbing epidemic that has afflicted London and some other English cities.
With Scotland's ageing population, it's time to get wiser about the oldest in society
The solution for the UK was taken from Scotland and the answers to the current spike in knife-carrying schoolkids has to be the same.
A strong stand of intolerance has to be matched with education and counselling to understand why pupils feel they have to carry knives in the first place.
Condemnation is easy, understanding the causes of crime less so. But educating pupils away from the pitfalls is better than locking them up when they go on to break the law.
Egg on their faces
Well-heeled neighbours on a hilly part of Glasgow have complained to their building factors about an annual Easter egg roll that takes place on the streets outside.
They are worried about the nuisance, noise and mess a few dozen kids and parents will cause in what has become a cherished annual tradition for the youngsters to enjoy.
Lighten up you snobs. Enjoy your Easter and open the private pleasure gardens to allow families to have a picnic after the egg roll.
