An Angus court has heard how a man bragged about a lengthy spell behind bars after carrying out an assault in Arbroath.
James William Tough, 25, whose address was given as Perth Prison, appeared from custody at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to assault and possession of scissors during an incident on May 5 this year in the town’s Grant Road.
The court heard how the complainers in the case had been in the town for a night out and were making their way back from Pie Bob’s then they were confronted by Tough, who was walking his dog at around 3am.
Fiscal Jill Drummond said: “The accused asked the two witnesses if they had any ‘rollies’. They said they did not and he said he would walk up to Pie Bob’s to see if anyone there had any.
“He referred to the people at Pie Bob’s as ‘dafties’ or ‘idiots’. One of the witnesses said there were no ‘dafties’ there and the accused became extremely argumentative and aggressive making out that he had been called a ‘dafty’.
“The witnesses assured him that no one had called him anything but he swung his arm around the witness and punched him once on the face, causing him to stumble backwards.
“He then lifted his top at which time witnesses saw what appeared to be scissors tucked into the waist band of his trousers.
“His aggression continued and he asked if the witnesses knew who he was before saying ‘I’m James Tough’. He also said he had just been released from prison after eight years and that he would ‘do it again’.”
The fiscal added that police were attending an incident nearby while this was going on and heard someone shout “blade” when they arrived.
Tough was traced but was not arrested at the time as no scissors were found, the witnesses had gone and the description they had been given of the accused was sketchy.
Officers continued their investigations, using CCTV footage, and later traced Tough at his home at around 5am where he was arrested.
Tough had his sentence deferred until August 20 for the preparation of reports and was remanded in custody.