An Angus domestic offender who walked, uninvited into his ex-partner’s house after being released from prison to find her with a new man has landed back in court.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, 58-year-old Alan Strachan was placed on a 24-month Community Payback Order for the offence, which a sheriff heard was the result of “the demon drink”.
Depute fiscal Jill Drummond told the court the woman and her new partner were lying in bed watching TV on the evening of May 4 when the accused came into the house in Carnoustie’s Ravensby Rark Gardens uninvited and unexpectedly.
He was asked to leave, but refused to do so and became abusive towards the woman.
“During the exchange he sprayed saliva on her when she was in close proximity to him,” said the fiscal.
“Despite further requests for him to leave she eventually told him he could sleep in another bedroom. All parties then fell asleep and around 7.30am, police were contacted and they arrested the accused.”
Defence solicitor Ian Myles said his client had been released from a short prison sentence just before the incident and had gone back to his partner’s address.
“He wasn’t drunk at the time, but they all had a drink together and it was after consuming quite a lot of alcohol that this took place,” he said.
“He eventually gets told what the position is with the new relationship and it is through alcohol that it all kicks off.
“He does not wish to return to the complainer.”
Strachan, of Broomhill Drive, Monifieth, who admitted assaulting the woman on May 4 causing spit to land on her head, was told by Sheriff Reekie: “You have had a custodial sentence and can see what is going to happen.
“It’s unfortunate the first thing you do within a matter of days of coming out of prison is behave like this.
“I am sure in the cold light of day you don’t behave in this way, but when you are under the influence you become a different man.
“You have a significant catalogue of domestic offending, including breach of court orders and I can only hope this has been a wake-up call.”
Strachan will be subject to a CPO with supervision for the next two years, with a review of the order in three months’ time.
