A drunken farmer who butted a steward at this year’s Perth Show has been fined £500 at Perth Sheriff Court.
The court heard how Stephen McCord (30), of Craigend Farm, Perth, had earlier been asked to leave a beer tent at the event, which took place on August 6.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said the Perth Show was “run very well” but that it was not unusual for incidents such as this to take place.
In August last year, Perth and Kinross Council took the decision to cut the opening hours to the event due to “rowdy and drunken behaviour”. This confined drinking time this year from 11am-6pm as opposed to the previous closing time of 8pm.
The council’s licensing board also agreed there would be three door stewards in place at the beer tent.
The committee heard from Inspector David Hunter who told them officers spent a “considerable” time patrolling near the marquee, controlling “rowdy and drunken” behaviour.
He said: “Many patrons were repeatedly warned about their behaviour. When the marquee closed, officers had to ensure patrons were moved away. Many were unsteady on their feet and they had to keep an eye on them.
“Due to the drunk and disorderly behaviour it was some time before they could clear the area.”
On Tuesday, McCord admitted that on August 6 at the South Inch, Perth, he assaulted a man by butting him on the face to his injury.
Ms Whyte said: “It’s (Perth Show) run very well but it’s not uncommon for disturbances to take place in the beer tent where people have been drinking. There is a heavy police presence and stewards are in place to curb anti-social behaviour.”
She said McCord who helps run a farm with his parents was not allowed to return to the beer tent due to being involved in an earlier “minor disturbance”.
“The accused was asked to leave the beer tent by door stewards,” Ms Whyte added. “McCord then butted a steward on the face causing both men to fall to the ground. The accused was quickly restrained by police and taken to Perth Police HQ.
“The man had a cut to his lip and his gums were bleeding. His front top teeth had been knocked back into his gums but were still in place.
“When he was charged, the accused told police officers: ‘I’m awfully sorry’.”
Solicitor Alison McKay, representing McCord, said: “There had been an incident in the beer tent involving others and my client had been asked to leave. However, he can’t recall being banned from the beer tent.”
Ms McKay told the court her client felt he was pushed away in this incident.
“He told me he was taken by the arms but his behaviour does not justify this,” she said.
She added: “His wife is in the court today and and she is none too pleased by his behaviour.”
Sentencing McCord, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: “You are a 30-year-old married man who had too much to drink and look what happened. You made a fool of yourself and injured someone.
“Your wife is quite right in giving you a talking to.”
McCord was also told to pay £150 in compensation to his victim.