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Balintore man warned of custody at Tain Sheriff Court should he offend again after being handed community service for drink-fuelled wall punch at estranged partner's home


By Court Reporter

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Tain Sheriff Court
Tain Sheriff Court

A DRUNK Balintore man punched a hole in the wall of his estranged partner’s home, a court heard.

An intoxicated and agitated Hamish Crawford, of Parkland Place, Balintore, entered the woman’s home in the village uninvited without knocking or ringing the bell at 10pm on New Year’s Day.

The 24-year-old began ranting and raving close up to his partner’s face about her “failings” in front of other people including her mother, before punching a hole in the hallway.

Procurator fiscal Niall Mac-Donald told Tain Sheriff Court: “It was a significant hole that you could see through. This was witnessed by the mother and caused significant fear and alarm to the occupants as they feared what might happen next.”

Police were called and Crawford was interviewed at a police station on January 2 but gave a ‘no comment’ answer to all questions.

He appeared for sentencing last week, having previously admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

Defence agent Neil Wilson said Crawford had split with his partner in early December and the relationship was unequivocally over. He had been in touch with the woman since on an ad-hoc basis, although relations had been strained.

“He lost his temper on the day in question,” said the lawyer. “There is no indication of any underlying difficulty or problem and it is hoped it is a one-off incident.”

Sheriff Gary Aitken ordered Crawford to do 90 hours unpaid work within six months.

The sheriff issued a stern warning to Crawford, saying: “If you need to have further dealings with your former partner, you will do it properly and civilly. If you find yourself back in this court, there is a very distinct possibility of a custodial sentence.”


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