Man given community service after hitting woman

May 12 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A MAN hit a woman on the head with a steel stool he threw in a rage at a crowded tenpin bowling alley.

Stuart Juliff had been at the Deer Park Country Club bowling alley for a works night out on December 11 last year but Livingston Sheriff Court heard the 20-year-old became involved in an argument with one of his colleagues shortly after 9pm.

Juliff was asked to quieten down by a security guard but when he refused he was told to leave.

“The accused became aggressive towards him and a scuffle ensued between the pair,” fiscal depute Wendy McDonald said.

“At this stage the accused picked up a metal bar stool and threw the bar stool in the direction of the bowling area and the chair subsequently hit a the female witness on the head.

“Police officers arrived and found him being restrained and shouting and swearing at the security guard.”

Juliff, whose address was given as Longridge Road, Whitburn, pled guilty to committing a breach of the peace and admitted culpably and recklessly throwing a steel stool which hit a woman on the head.

The court also heard the 20-year-old had been on a deferred sentence for committing a breach of the peace in July 2010 by engaging in a fight with a 15-year-old boy on West Main Street, Whitburn at the time of his second offence.

His solicitor, Glenn Fraser, told the court sentence had been deferred for his client to be of good behaviour.

“Unfortunately one matter has arisen in that period of good behaviour,” Mr Fraser added.

“It is a matter which is of concern to Mr Juliff as he had been drinking heavily and he doesn’t know exactly what had happened that night.

“He has always expressed concern that an innocent bystander became caught up in it.

“Fortunately she was not injured but that was perhaps luck more than anything else.

“He does take full responsibility for both incidents and accepts they are serious charges.”

Placing Juliff on probation and ordering him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community Sheriff Martin Edington said his behaviour had been absolutely “disgraceful”.

Sheriff Edington added: “I hope you have got the impression that these are cases which concern me.

“I have to say that someone who is on deferred sentence to then, in a crowded ten pin bowling alley, throw a three foot stool which struck a woman on the head causing her to attend at hospital is absolutely disgraceful behaviour.

“You also have two previous convictions that certainly don’t help you but I am prepared to take into account this is a fairly positive social enquiry report and I have been persuaded, just it has to be said, that I should give you one final opportunity to avoid a custodial sentence.”

Sheriff Edington also ordered Juliff to be electronically tagged meaning he can’t leave his house between 7pm and 7am for the next 105 days.