Pair found guilty of Burnbank fracas

Dec 30 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

TWO Hamilton yobs have been convicted of brandishing weapons in a Burnbank street.

Paul Lowe and William McMahon, both 33, were found guilty by Sheriff Ray Small at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Thursday.

Lowe, of Crawford Street, and McMahon, of Hill Street, had both denied committing a breach of the peace and brandishing golf clubs in Gordon Terrace, Burnbank, on August 25, 2009.

McMahon – known locally as “Titch” – had also pleaded not guilty to assaulting 25-year-old John Mann and attempting to strike him with a knife at the complainer’s home in the street on the same date.

However, a guilty verdict was given after a three-part trial.

Last month, the court heard evidence from John Mann’s mother, Jane McFadyen.

McMahon was spotted travelling past Gordon Terrace in a car, Ms McFadyen told the court, while her son was standing in the street.

McMahon swiftly returned with a knife, she said, and pursued Mann, who ran into his mother’s house.

The pursuit culminated in Mann trying to hold the front door closed as McMahon pushed from the other side, said the mother.

The accused was said to have lashed out at Mann through the slightly-open door in an attempt to strike him with the knife, said the mother.

She also said that Lowe was in street carrying a golf club, having arrived in a separate car.

Ms McFadyen’s young children had been in the front garden at the time and witnessed the whole incident.

Both accused later fled, and police recovered a knife and a golf club at the scene.

At an earlier diet on November 4, essential Crown witness and complainer Mann was due to give evidence, but was held up in a prison lockdown.

He is currently on remand at Addiewell prison awaiting trial for a separate matter.

At court last Thursday, Sheriff Small deferred sentence on McMahon and Lowe until January 25, calling for reports.

Bail was continued meantime.