A CONTROVERSIAL wedding sparked violence within Perthshire’s Traveller community.
Enraged by his relative’s choice of bride, John Newlands stormed into his house and attacked him with a screwdriver on January 23 last year.
After hearing shouting, swearing and banging outside the home he shared with his partner in Cleish, William Travers told her to hide in the bathroom with her children.
He then made a desperate attempt to secure the property but failed to notice the patio door had been left open.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how Newlands forced his way into the house and despite being put in a headlock, managed to stab his victim several times with the screwdriver, leaving him with a 3cm wound above his eye.
The 43-year-old also broke Mr Travers’ nose, as well as leaving him with two superficial cuts to the top of his head.
Earlier that day, Newlands’ daughter, Angela, had been involved in an altercation with another relative.
Mercedes Miller was driving along Kinross High Street when the 22-year-old stepped out in front of her car, forcing her to brake sharply.
As the shocked driver wound down her window to confront Miss Newlands, the accused leaned in the window and grabbed her necklace, breaking it before taking hold of her hair and punching her on the face.
Ms Miller was punched again as she was dragged from the vehicle.
Appearing for sentencing at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, Angela Newlands, of May Place, Perth, admitted that on January 23 last year she assaulted Ms Miller.
She was visibly distraught as he ordered her to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.
John Newlands, of Green Julian Place, Inchture, admitted that on January 23 last year, at Craigton Garden in Cleish, he assaulted Mr Travers by punching and kicking him on the head and body, as well as repeatedly stabbing him on the head with a screwdriver to his injury.
He was jailed for three years and two months.