A COATBRIDGE man was warned he was “very close to a custodial sentence” after he admitted acting aggressively.
Michael Burns, 35, of Lomond Place, behaved in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm on January 23 at a house in his home town’s Howes Street.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard how he demanded entry, acted in an aggressive manner and was shouting and swearing.
Prosecutor Alice Carey said Burns threatened and challenged police to a fight, kicked furniture and put his partner into a state of fear, alarm and distress.
He then gave a false name to police in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
In addition, Burns breached a court order breaking a bail condition imposed on him at the court on January 24, banning him from entering Howes Street; he was found in the street on March 8.
Ms Carey explained: “Burns and his partner had been in a relationship for five years. At 5am that morning, he was banging on the door.
“A neighbour heard a voice and recognised it to be Burns. He was shouting, ‘let me f****** in.’ Then it went quiet.
“At 9am, she came out shouting, ‘help me, he’s battered the f*** out of me’.
“She attended at Coatbridge police office to report the matter. At 9.20am, police attended and saw the accused in the front garden of the property.
“Because of his aggressive nature with police, he was handcuffed and arrested.”
Defence lawyer Paul Belardo said: “He doesn’t have a good record. He has an alcohol problem, there’s no doubt about that.”
Sheriff Petra Collins told Burns: “The background report is not good. You are very close to a custodial sentence.”
Burns was ordered to be tagged each day from 7pm until 7am for four months; the sheriff told him this was a direct alternative to custody, while Burns was admonished on the bail breach.
