A man who threatened a woman and a pub landlord with violence on separate occasions has narrowly avoided a jail sentence at Arbroath Sheriff Court.
Martin Ronan Hutchison (29), Bents Road, Montrose, admitted that on October 8 in the High Street he shouted at a woman and threatened her with violence outside the Market Arms, committing a breach of the peace while on bail.
He further admitted that in The Golf Inn in Mill Street, Montrose, on November 20, he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards the pub licensee and refused to leave when asked to do so. On the same day he admitted sending messages that were menacing in character and threatened violence to the licensee.
Speaking to the first charge, depute fiscal Arlene Shaw told the court Hutchison had shouted at a former partner that he was ”going to knock her out” during an evening when she was out with friends.
Just over a month later he entered The Golf Inn despite being barred.
The depute fiscal said: ”The accused refused to leave and when asked to do so started smoking a cigarette inside the pub.
”He became aggressive towards the pub’s licensee, Mr Young, and began to shout and swear before other patrons intervened to escort the accused from the pub.
”As he was leaving the accused said ‘I’ll slice your face open if you call the police’.”
She said the police were contacted and while attempting to trace Hutchison the pub licensee received telephone calls threatening to kill him if he called the police.
Sheriff Peter Paterson ordered Hutchison to serve 100 hours of community service and to pay compensation of £250 to the licensee.
He added: ”Your behaviour towards the pub licensee was completely unacceptable and I’ll also impose an order to stay away from the pub premises for a period of one year.”