Arbroath man broke bones in his mother’s hand after boiling over because house was too hot

An Angus man broke bones in his mother’s hand after “going mental” in a disagreement over the room temperature.

William Ferguson from Arbroath lost his cool over the temperature of John and Joanne Kirkpatrick’s Letham home during an evening visit on August 1.

The 26-year-old admitted two charges of assault while on bail at Gardyne Street in the village.

Depute fiscal Jill Drummond said Mr Kirkpatrick was sitting in the living room while his wife was upstairs in bed, and the accused came in, upset.

He sat down and complained about the heat.

He was told to sit under the window to get a draft, and he became angry.

Ferguson then punched Mr Kirkpatrick in the face and Mrs Kirkpatrick stepped between the two.

He pushed her and she stumbled into the doorframe, breaking two bones in her hand which required treatment at Ninewells Hospital.

Ferguson, of Newton Crescent, said in response to police caution and charge: “I hit him once and he phoned you” and “I never touched my mum”.

Sentence was deferred until January 14.