A young Forfar man has been locked up for a year after a litany of offences, which began on Christmas Day last year.
Liam Pytlak will serve 12 months in prison for the catalogue of offending across Forfar.
On Christmas day last year, he drunkenly brandished a bottle at police officers called to an address on Montrose Street, Brechin.
In September, he was caught on CCTV breaking into a car and stealing money.
On the same day he shouted abuse at a local shopkeeper, and called him a disgusting racial slur.
Pytlak, of Kemsley Park, Forfar appeared in Dundee Sheriff Court before Sheriff Gregor Murray.
The 23-year-old pled guilty to charges of abusive behaviour, attempted theft, theft, assault and making racist remarks.
Christmas Day chaos
Fiscal depute Emma Farmer outlined the chaotic timeline of offending that brought Pytlak to court, beginning with a domestic incident with his partner on Christmas Day.
“Around 6 pm on the 25th of December under the influence of alcohol, the accused, acting in a threatening manner began throwing food items around while calling his partner derogatory names.
“[She] contacted a friend who then contacted the police out of concern for her.
“Police attended soon after and accused was traced in the kitchen.”
Pytlak raised a bottle over his head and threatened the police, stating: “Who’s getting a bottle first then?”
He kept goading the officers as they tried to defuse the tense situation, saying,
“Come on then.”
Pytlak did not let up as he was put in handcuffs and had to be carried to the waiting police vehicle.
Ms Farmer said: “He said to the officers: ‘I’ll f**king kill you’ and ‘I will fight all of you’.
“He tried to bite constables.”
Thefts from vehicles
Pytlak’s more recent brushes with the law occurred in early September, beginning with attempted theft when he was seen trying to break into several vehicles on Fruithill, Forfar.
Between September 7 and 8, he broke into a white Peugeot on Viewmount, and stole a wallet, a bank card, a driver’s licence and lighter.
On September 8 he stole a mobile phone, a laptop and £150 in cash from an address on St James Road.
On that same day he got into an argument with a shop assistant at the Best One shop on Taranty Road, when he tried to get a refund for scratch cards.
He verbally threatened the cashier and called them a “P**i b******d”.
Job loss led to offending
Defending solicitor Jim Caird told the court his client had been affected by a downturn in work opportunities due to the pandemic, as he had formerly worked as a scaffolder.
“I certainly think that’s what has influenced what’s happened here,” said Mr Caird.
Sheriff Gregor Murray addressed Pytlak before sentencing,
“To cut a long story short, you’ve shown periods where you thought there was light at the end of the tunnel and every time you’ve blown it spectacularly.”
