Drunk lands fine for breach of the peace

Feb 25 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DRUNK who threatened to petrol bomb a group of friends has been fined.

Livingston Sheriff Court heard two couples were sleeping in a house in Uphall Station Road, Pumpherston on Christmas Eve after enjoying a night socialising.

At around 1.30am they woke when they heard a noise at the front door and then it opening.

The two men went to see who it was and were met in the hall by James Tierney who was shouting and swearing.

The noise he was making woke up the two females who asked Tierney to leave.

He refused and continued to shout and swear. Eventually the 26-year-old was ushered out the house and at this point he told them he was going to come back and petrol bomb them.

Last week at Livingston Sheriff Court Tierney, whose address was given as Harrysmuir Terrace, Pumpherston, pled guilty to causing a breach of the peace.

His solicitor, Andy Aitken, told the court his client had been at a Christmas party in Deans and then went on to another party in Pumpherston.

Mr Aitken added: “He had consumed so much alcohol that he can remember very little about the incident. He tells me that he is not a regular drinker of alcohol.

“It is quite clear from what happened to him on this night that alcohol simply does not agree with him.

“There is nothing analogous to this in his schedule.

“In the cold sober light of day he accepts it must have been upsetting to the people involved. However these threats were empty threats and just the ramblings of a drunk man.

“He does not know why he went to this address.”

Fining Tierney £160 Sheriff Alan Millar said: “We will never really know what was going on in your mind at the time but it must have been upsetting to the people you threatened and shouted at.

“It is to your credit that you have not drunk since then and I think the lesson is quite clear that alcohol and you simply do not mix.”