A preyed-upon pensioner who threatened to smash in a woman’s face has been shown mercy by a sheriff.
Vulnerable Henry Sime, 70, claimed he was going to batter Carole Ann McPhilemy amid accusations of theft involving her household possessions.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard Sime lost the plot during a domestic disturbance and he turned the air blue with threats when police were called to the address.
A Procurator Fiscal Depute told the court: “The accused and the complainer had been in a relationship together for four years.
“At around 3pm on the day of the complaint, the accused and a witness were within the witness’s home
address.
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“At around 4pm police were contacted, and approached the locus to detain the accused for the purposes of a search.
“At this time the accused became agitated and began shouting, ‘You are not f****** searching me,’ ‘I want my lawyer.’
“ Police explained the reason why they were there.
“However, the accused began shouting threats of violence including, ‘She is getting battered,’ and ‘She is getting her face battered in tonight.’”
The pensioner was duly arrested by police.
Sime, of the town’s south end , yesterday pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on April 3 likely to cause a fear or alarm in that he shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence.
He also admitted breaching an undertaking not to approach or contact Ms McPhilemy on April 4.
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Defence agent Gordon Ritchie explained Sime, who receives help from support agencies in the community, was the real victim in the circumstances.
He said: “It is a very disturbing domestic situation.
“He has been a victim at the hands of others.
“In fact he is still being targeted by others who see him as a soft touch.
“He was accused of stealing from her house, when the complainer had sold items to fund her existing habits, and he took exception to that.”
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Sheriff Craig Harris said: “It seems clear to me that you are being taken advantage by people in your life.
“However the comments made are utterly unacceptable.”
He fined Sime £400.
