A Carnoustie man has been given a Community Payback Order after an assault on his long-term partner which left him unconscious.
Kenneth Anderson, 48, of the town’s Kirkton Terrace appeared for sentence before Sheriff Gregor Murray at Forfar yesterday having previously admitted pushing the woman at their home address in August, causing her to strike her head and body against a wall, rendering her unconscious.
Defence solicitor Lindsey McLeod said the offence was the accused’s first conviction and he had been with the complainer for some 14 years.
She said the court case could have serious ramifications for Anderson.
“He is employed with a school and they have effectively a no tolerance policy for any sort of conviction so he will almost inevitably lose his job.
“Although the injury was serious in this matter it started with a push and there was no intention to cause harm.”
Sheriff Murray told Anderson: “I accept the consequences of what you did were unintended, however I have to take those consequences into account.”
“This is sufficiently serious that I could imprison you for this, however there is an alternative.”
Anderson was ordered to carry our 140 hours unpaid work within 12 months as part of the CPO.
l Also at Forfar: Gareth Harris, 34, High Street, Arbroath, was jailed for a total of four months and 60 days for shoplifting in Montrose, while on bail.
Defence agent Julie Young said the accused had been released from prison in February this year, since when there had been a significant slowing down in his offending.
“The new relationship which he is in is a very positive influence on him,” she added.
Sheriff Murray told Harris that a second offence of shoplifting had been aggravated because of its close proximity to a first incident and the fact that he was on bail at the time.
“There can be no alternative to a custodial sentence,” he said.
“Everything else has been tried.”