Man is fined £100 for breaking pub window

Nov 20 2008

A HAMILTON man was this week fined £100 for punching and breaking the window of a town pub.

David Hastie smashed the window at the Auld Hoose in Low Waters Road.

He blamed frustration caused by a man who refused leave his girlfriend, Ashley Fallon, alone.

The 26-year-old, of Craigburn Street, broke his knuckles during the November 1 incident and left a 150-yard trail of blood near the scene.

Details of the incident were reported in the Advertiser’s November 6 issue.

Hastie pleaded guilty to breach of the peace when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The charge stated that he shouted, swore, placed his girlfriend in a state of fear for her safety and caused alarm and annoyance to members of the public.

His agent, solicitor advocate Charles Ferguson, told Sheriff Peter Hammond that Hastie had tried to turn himself into police on a number of occasions after reading about the incident in the Advertiser.

Mr Ferguson explained that his client had been at a family function that night.

However, earlier that day, Hastie had found out that a friend had died.

His mood, said the lawyer, became morose and he drank more than he should have done.

When he and Ms Fallon left the pub, they were approached by a man whom he described as “hanging all over her”.

Mr Ferguson said the man made numerous advances towards Ms Fallon and Hastie had intervened, largely at her insistence.

Hastie confronted the individual, but the lawyer said his client was ignored and he hit out at the wall of the pub.

“Mr Hastie was extremely frustrated and rather than strike the individual he lashed out at a wall,” said Mr Ferguson.

“Unfortunately, he struck the window and thereafter accepted that he completely over-reacted.”

It was also pointed out that Hastie broke his knuckles during the incident and ended up in hospital.

Sheriff Hammond fined Hastie, given his solicitor’s plea in mitigation, the fact that he had handed himself into police and the fact that he was pleading guilty at the first opportunity.

Following the incident, Auld Hoose owner Paul Reilly said damage caused that night would cost him £2000.

The windows were smashed after a wedding reception attended by between 150 and 200 people.

Mr Reilly told the Advertiser that Hastie and his girlfriend and been “lovey-dovey” all night.

He added, however: “They seemed to fall out at the end of the evening.

“The guy flew into a jealous rage and my windows were the nearest things to take it out on.

“He put his bare fist through double-glazed units and that takes some doing.”