A man who admitted waving a knife in the air next to a public park full of kids before cutting his neck has been spared prison.
Dean Battersby, 27, turned up at his former partner’s home on May 19 in an attempt to see his child.
After being refused, he caused chaos on Darroch Street in Chapelhall by yelling at the woman and various other witnesses in a public park with children present.
Motherwell resident Battersby then produced the knife.
At Airdrie Sheriff Court earlier this month, the procurator fiscal explained: “The accused’s ex-partner had been in a six-and-a-half year relationship with him and they have one child together.
“There were a number of children playing in the street at the time of the offence, around 11.30am on a Sunday morning. The complainer told the accused to drop the knife and he threw it on the ground.
“The accused left the locus but was followed by the complainer who wanted to keep an eye on him. He told her he ‘still loved her’ and had tried to kill himself after they broke up.
“He then grabbed the knife and held it to side of his neck and cut himself, drawing blood. This shocked the witness and she ran away.
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“Police apprehended him nearby and he was detained for a search but no knife was located on him.
“He was arrested and taken to Coatbridge police office where he replied ‘nah’ to all charges.”
In mitigation, Battersby’s defence solicitor John McGeechan said: “His problem was that he wasn’t getting any contact with his son for creating dramas like this.
“He had been drinking tonic wine and carried out this silly behaviour.”
Sheriff Frank Pieri interrupted: “I wouldn’t categorise this as ‘silly behaviour’, he’s in custodial sentence territory here.”
The defence solicitor admitted he had “understated it” before Sheriff Pieri, addressing Battersby directly, said: “If you go around doing this you can expect a custodial sentence.
“Given your lack of offending prior to this I’m prepared to deal with you on a community payback order.
“I’ll place you under supervision for 18 months you’ll also carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months.”
