A man who threatened two strangers outside an Arbroath nightclub has narrowly escaped custody after giving up drink to mend his ways.
Marc McGough, of the town’s Ness Drive, appeared for sentence before Sheriff Pino DI Emidio at Forfar on Thursday having previously admitted a string of charges relating to an incident outside De Vito’s in Millgate on November 22 last year.
McGough, 28, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening manner towards a man and a woman, brandishing a bottle at the man and pushing the woman against a metal barrier to her injury.
He also admitted resisting arrest at Arbroath police office on the same date and struggling violently with police, as well as attempting to bite one officer.
Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy said the complainers, an 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, were standing outside the nightclub around 1am when McGough approached them and attempted to interrupt their conversation.
“They indicated that they didn’t want to speak to him, but he continued to butt in. He was told to go away, but then became abusive, was shouting and swearing and approached the male complainer and was right up at his face,” the fiscal added.
He then forcibly pushed the female, causing her to slam against a metal railing.
“She fell to the ground, and on seeing his partner being assaulted and injured the male complainer approached the accused. It was then that he noticed that he had a glass bottle in his hand and he started brandishing it.”
The court heard the male complainer shouted for assistance from a bouncer at the nightclub and around the same time police who were on duty in the vicinity arrived.
The fiscal added: “They approached the accused and told him to put the bottle down and he then became aggressive towards the officers, lashing out with his arms and legs to try to break free.
“At Arbroath police station he attempted to bite one of the officers and kick him on the body.”
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said McGough had admitted the offences back in February and had managed to stay out of trouble since then.
He said the accused had also spent a number of months on curfew and there had been no breach of that.
Mr Rennie added: “These are not minor charges and it has been accepted all along by Mr McGough that the nature of his record places him at risk it was entirely unacceptable behaviour.
“He has stopped drinking since this incident and has been prescribed medication to stop him drinking. All of that has been done voluntarily.”
Sheriff Di Emidio told McGough: “You have been subject to a curfew for a substantial time and I take that into account.
“I also take into account that you appear to have taken steps to mend your ways. Were it not for that, you would have been at a very high risk of a custodial sentence.”
He placed McGough on a 12-month Community Payback Order, with a condition that he must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.