An abuse charity has blasted an appeal court’s decision to quash an Angus man’s jail term.
Darren Church, 34, who works as an armed guard at RM Condor, Arbroath, was sentenced to 160 days in prison after he admitted picking up a knife and challenging Kevin Elliot, assaulting Mr Elliot by pushing him, seizing him by the throat and pinning him against a wall.
Church also admitted shouting and swearing at Rebecca Elliot and Dawn Swankie and repeatedly returning after being asked to leave.
He also assaulted Ms Elliot by repeatedly seizing her by the arms, pushing her on the body and throwing a ring at her to her injury.
Church had downed 24 bottles of beer and demanded his ring back from newly-engaged partner Ms Elliot after a row over which TV channel they were watching.
The offences all took place at an address at Middleton Park in Brechin on January 1 and 2.
Church, an armed guard at RM Condor near Arbroath, was told to go home but instead pinned his prospective father-in-law against a wall before picking up a knife and trying to goad him into a fight.
At the appeal court in Edinburgh, Church had his prison sentence quashed and was instead given a 50-hour community payback order.
Keiran Watson, of the charity 18 Plus, which offers free and confidential support to men and women over 18 who have suffered abuse, blasted the decision.
He said: “I think this is wrong he should have been jailed. We have to think about what message is being sent out by letting him escape prison.
“Jail isn’t just about the punishment but also rehabilitation and I just hope he is receiving some form of counselling at the very least.
“Victims of abusive behaviour might look at this and think: what’s the point in calling the police?”
At the original hearing in February, Sheriff Gregor Murray had claimed there was “no credible alternative” to a prison sentence.
He said: “You have a highly-skilled and highly-trained job which involves you guarding people.
“You have been trained to behave in a certain way and have fallen down seriously in those high standards expected of you.
“Domestic violence, alcohol and knives are a combustible mix.”
The court previously heard Church and Rebecca Elliot had only been engaged for a week before the incident.