Jailed for assaulting his own mother

Jamie Gillan had “vehemently denied” the assault when he first appeared at Lanark Sheriff Court from custody the day after it happened.

But, back in court on Thursday, he admitted he had assaulted Gail Knowles by kicking her on the body, and striking her on the head and body, causing her to fall, and injuring her, in the incident at 14 Springhill View, Douglas, on August 25.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening manner, repeatedly shouting and swearing and taking possession of a knife and threatening to harm himself.

The incident happend just after 9pm, and depute fiscal Liam Haggart told the court that Gillan had been drinking throughout the day.

He had then been on the phone to his father, and he then began to behave aggressively, shouting and swearing, taking hold of the knife and threatening to harm himself.

He then assaulted his mother and the police were summoned.

“Officers had to use CS spray, and eventually he was subdued,” added Mr Haggart.

A solicitor for Gillan (29) said that he had phoned his father to wish him happy birthday, and his father had been abusive to him on the phone.

Gillan had a dreadful record, but the solicitor added that a recent court order had been going well, but that day he had been drinking for the first time since the order was made.

“Then to his great shame and regret, he was aggressive towards his mother, who was trying to stop him harming himself, and he assaulted her. He deeply regrets this as she has been trying to help him.”

His mother was now speaking to him, but was “extremely disappointed” in what had happened.

Sheriff Derek O’Carroll said that the offences were very serious, and jailed Gillan for ten months, backdated to August 26 when he had been remanded in custody.