An Angus military policeman who assaulted his fiance and threatened her father with a knife in a New Year’s Day “stramash” has been jailed.
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. The offences all took place at an address at Middleton Park in Brechin on January 1 and 2.
Depute fiscal Isma Mukhtar told the court that, after a row over TV channels, Church left but returned and tried to enter the house.
After fighting with his fiance Rebecca Elliot and her father’s partner Dawn Swankie, his fiance’s father, Kevin Elliot, intervened. Church pinned him to the wall by the throat before releasing him.
“Matters then escalated and there appears to have been a stramash in the hallway,” added Ms Mukhtar.
Ms Elliot attempted to break things up and ended up struggling with Church.
When her father stepped in and threatened Church, the accused picked up a small knife from the kitchen and told him: “Go on, you know you want to.”
Church finally left of his own volition.
The following day, Church returned and there was a physical fight between him and Kevin Elliot.
Defence solicitor Jennifer Strachan said: “He pled guilty from custody and has very limited recollection of the incident, as he was under the influence of alcohol.
“He is in the armed forces and will face sanctions outwith this court over and above any disposal in this case.”
Jailing Church, Sheriff Gregor Murray said he was in “very serious trouble”.
He added: “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.
“There’s no credible alternative to a custodial sentence.”
The court previously heard Church and Rebecca Elliot had only been engaged for a week before the incident.