A 66-year-old Ayr man has been placed under social work supervision and ordered to undergo alcohol treatment after a series of domestic incidents, including an assault on a police sergeant and repeated breaches of court orders preventing contact with his partner.
Walter Strachan appeared for sentencing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to threatening or abusive behaviour, police assault and breaching an order not to contact his partner on June 4. He also admitted a further breach on July 28.
Incidents in Ayr and Kilmarnock
The first incident was reported at about 7pm on May 30, when police received an anonymous report of a domestic incident at a property on Viewfield Road in Ayr. Officers attended and arrested Strachan, who was 66 at the time.
As he was being led to a police van, Strachan kicked backwards with his right foot and struck a sergeant on the right shin. He was placed in the van and taken to A&E.
The court heard that Strachan’s partner said he had damaged her property during the incident, throwing her bag onto the roof and smashing her phone. After being cautioned and charged, he told officers that he had lost control.
Strachan was released on an undertaking to appear at Ayr Sheriff Court. However, on June 4 at about 9pm, a friend of his partner contacted police to report that he was at the woman’s home in Kilmarnock and refusing to leave. He was arrested and removed, then held to appear from custody.
Further breach and court sentence
At about 1.45am on July 28, Strachan contacted police and said he did not need help but was safe. Officers went to a property in MacNichol Place, Kilmarnock, to carry out a welfare check.
Strachan told officers that his partner was at the property. She said she had been locked out of her own home. He was arrested and held to appear in court.
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court was told on August 3 that the couple, who had been in a relationship for about a year, intended to remain together. The defence said both had attended each other’s homes, while social workers had referred to a pattern of offending.
The defence also said Strachan would accept an alcohol treatment requirement and described him as someone who drank heavily. The sheriff concluded that his alcohol consumption was behind both offences and said change was necessary.
Strachan was placed under social work supervision for 12 months, with an alcohol treatment requirement. The court made clear that the treatment was mandatory rather than voluntary.