A Scots nurse turned into the Grinch after a bust-up with his ex-girlfriend, cutting festive lights, smashing baubles and trashing the Christmas tree.
Emmet McCann, 24, who works in the acute medical unit in Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital,turned into the green-eyed monster when he found his ex-partner Louise McDermott, also a nurse, in the company of another man.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard McCann returned from a shift at the busy hospital to the house they shared at Paisley’s Polsons Crescent and threw a wobbly when he discovered Ms McDermott sitting in the living room with Andrew O’Connor.
Procurator fiscal depute Victoria Keel told the court how McCann and Ms McDermott had been in a relationship, which ended in February, but they continued to live at the same property.
She described how things soured soon after McCann returned from work around 8.15pm on November 30.
She said: “Things were amicable at first. But then his behaviour changed towards the witnesses.
“He began slamming doors. They were alarmed by his behaviour.
“He then took a picture frame outside and smashed it against the building.
“Due to his behaviour, Ms McDermott was fearful and didn’t want him to enter back into the locus.
“She packed a bag and went to stay with Mr O’Connor for the rest of the evening.”
The court heard when she returned to her home the following morning, she discovered McCann had trashed the house, wrecking the Christmas tree, cutting up her clothes and smashing another picture frame.
Ms Keel said: “Ms McDermott returned the following day and observed the flat to be in a state of disarray.
“The Christmas tree was damaged. Tree lights were cut. Baubles were smashed. Another picture frame was also smashed.
“And her clothing had been cut up.
“She reported the matter to police.”
Yesterday, McCann appeared in the dock at court and pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
Defence agent Paul Lynch said his client had taken the split from Ms McDermott well up until the incident earlier this month.
He said: “Their relationship ended just before the lockdown.
“However, there had been episodes of intimacy between the couple as recently as the week before the incident.
“The picture frame concerned contained a picture of the couple in happier days.
“Then he came home from work to see another party in the flat and this has contributed to Mr McCann’s behaviour.”
Sheriff Tom McCartney told first offender McCann he was prepared to defer sentencing him for six months to see if he could stay out of trouble.
He will return to court on June 18 next year for a review of his behaviour.
