Drunk who abused strangers is jailed

Feb 10 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DRUNK with an “appalling” record who shouted abuse at total strangers in the street has been jailed.

Steven Mitchell, 27, had gone round to his sister’s house in Bathgate to collect a set of keys before he turned on a man on Lothian Street on February 2 this year.

“The witness returned to his vehicle which was parked on the road outside his home address,” fiscal depute Wendy McDonald told Livingston Sheriff Court.

“At this time, he observed the accused come towards the vehicle and he became abusive and aggressive.

“A female witness heard this and went out and he shouted at her and said he would get his sister to kick her in. The police were called and he was detained.”

Mitchell, of Hillhouse Avenue, Bathgate, pled guilty to committing a breach of the peace while on bail.

Referring to Mitchell’s lengthy list of previous convictions Sheriff Martin Edington said: “This is a schedule which almost needs to be weighed rather than read.”

Mitchell’s solicitor, Gerry Bann, agreed that the record didn’t make for happy reading. He added: “He has a long standing alcohol problem so clarity of thought is not his strong point unfortunately.

“As is typical of Mr Mitchell when I speak to him sober and not under the influence of alcohol, he is thoroughly embarrassed by his behaviour and puzzled why he would behave in this way.

“He is a fairly likeable and straightforward person but clearly alcohol is a demon for him and, as such, he has massive gaps in his memory and has little recollection about why this came about.

“He recalls some words being exchanged in the street but he doesn’t know these people and doesn’t know why any argument would have taken place.

“He is embarrassed and ashamed by his remarks. He is clearly a man who is going to have this recurring problem if his alcohol issues are not addressed.”

Ordering Mitchell to be returned to prison to serve a 26-day unexpired portion of a previous sentence and adding another 180 days for the breach of the peace, Sheriff Edington said: “I have been in this particular job for nearly ten years now and I suspect I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times someone with 12 pages of previous conviction has appeared in front of me.

“This is a quite appalling record and this offence was utterly mindless and no doubt frightening for the people involved.

“It is made worse by the fact not only were you on bail at the time but it came four or five days after you were released from a sentence for shoplifting and a breach of the peace while on bail.

“In my view, this court has no option but to deprive you of your liberty.”