A 34-year-old grandmother has admitted injuring three men by assaulting them with a metal dog lead after her son became involved in a brawl in Kirriemuir.
Julie McIntosh was walking her dog near her home in the town’s High Street when she noticed her 17-year-old son Rhys, of Prosen Road, had become involved in an altercation with a group of men.
Procurator fiscal Elisabeth Miller told Forfar Sheriff Court that Rhys McIntosh had gestured to one of the men “in a pointed manner” outside a bar and begun to act “aggressively” towards him.
Another man, who was outside having a cigarette, tried to defuse the situation, to no avail.
Ms Miller said, “Instead of having the desired effect of stopping the trouble, Mr McIntosh then began to struggle with (the second man).”
Rhys McIntosh, who was on bail at the time, then struggled with the man and assaulted him by repeatedly punching him, to his injury.
His mother then ran up to the men, swinging the weapon, before striking her son’s victim several times on the body with the lead. She then struck the first man on the body before turning on a third victim and hitting him on the hand with it.
The pair’s solicitor, Nick Markowski, said Julie McIntosh had acted out of concern for her son. He said the family had endured a “difficult” period over the past few years due to issues relating to Julie McIntosh’s substance abuse.
He added, “Miss McIntosh struggles to cope from time to time. Last year, she spent some time in hospital in relation to her mental health. She certainly presents today in a much better state of mind.
“In relation to Rhys McIntosh, it seems like he is turning things around, although he has had alcohol-related difficulties.”
Sheriff Kevin Veal made Julie McIntosh the subject of a low tariff, structured deferred sentence and imposed a community payback order on Rhys McIntosh in which he will be ordered to carry out unpaid work as well as undergo alcohol and anger management counselling.