A Hamilton man who confronted noisy youths with a knife has been jailed for more than two years.
Sean Smith made threats to kill, held the knife against the face of a 16-year-old boy and brandished it at another male.
A jury found Smith, 36, guilty of two assaults, possession of an offensive weapon and threatening or abusive behaviour.
Hamilton Sheriff Court, pictured, heard the trouble happened in a close in the town’s Newlands Drive on January 26, 2019.
Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said Smith had been “struggling to cope with life” after an assault left him with a fractured skull.
The solicitor explained: “He was in intensive care and it has caused him long-term difficulties.
“He was in a scatter flat. These young boys were frequenting the close, drinking, taking drugs and shouting.
“My client and other neighbours complained and this is corroborated by a housing officer.
“Disputes like this can arouse strong feelings, especially when people can’t get to sleep and there are children around.
“Fortunately, no one was injured when he took out the knife.”
Sheriff Daniel Kelly said putting a knife against someone’s face and uttering threats to kill put the case “on a different level” from simple possession of a knife.
He told dad-of-one Smith, now of Carnoustie Crescent, East Kilbride: “You have three previous convictions for assault and two for having a weapon.
“Having regard to your record and the nature of the charges, there is no alternative to custody.”
Smith was jailed for two years and got an extra two months for missing an earlier court date.
