A former Johnstone man who got drunk at his uncle’s funeral and ended up having a rammy with the wife in the street has been allowed to start his punishment after he returns from holiday.
Serial domestic offender Joseph Colquhoun shouted and swore at his wife after drinking to excess with family members at his uncle’s funeral on March 5.
After being arrested, Colquhoun, 50, was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital by cops as they feared for his level of intoxication.
Once there, Colquhoun called cops and hospital nurses “w*****s” and “c***s.”
At Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Eoin McGinty considered sending the thug to jail but instead ordered he carries out community service and wears a tag for three months keeping him within his home address between 7pm and 6am each day – beginning on June 4, when the he and his wife return from holidaying in Budapest.
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Procurator fiscal depute Maria Murdoch told the court: “The accused and the complainer were staying in the Lynnhurst Hotel in Johnstone on this day.
“Around 5.30pm, a witness could hear the accused shouting and swearing at his partner.
“Another witness who was on cleaning duties within the hotel could also hear the accused shouting in McDowell Street.
“He was stating, ‘F**k off, you don’t understand.’
“The police were contacted and the accused could again be heard shouting, ‘You’re coming with me.’
“The witness who observed this was told by the accused, ‘It’s nothing to do with you, f**k off.’
“Police attended at the hotel room where the couple were staying and knocked the door but got no answer.
“Officers could hear the accused inside the room and believed he was intoxicated.
“A member of staff provided the key for the room.”
The court heard officers entered the room where self-employed construction worker, Colquhoun was in an “extremely intoxicated state.”
He was arrested and taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital where he verbally abused cops and hospital staff.
Ms Murdoch added: “Within the Accident and Emergency ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital around 7.30pm, the accused shouted at officers calling them, ‘W*****s, c***s’ and stating, ‘f**k you.’
“A staff nurse approached and asked him to stop his conduct but he shouted, ‘I don’t give a f**k.’
“He was cautioned and charged and made no reply.”
Defence agent Charlie McCusker told how Colquhoun had been attending his uncle’s funeral and had been given “ a lot to drink” by family members.
Mr McCusker added: “He was very intoxicated and he has very little recollection.
“He was born and bred in Johnstone but he has been away for some time and he was given a lot to drink.
"Police took the view that they had to take him to A&E as there were concerns over his intoxication.
“In the cold light of day he knows this behaviour is unacceptable.
“He is a previous domestic offender but he is mortified of his behaviour and is remorseful.
“His wife is here today to show her support and for her birthday they are going to Budapest on holiday and won’t return until June 3 if your Lordship allows him his liberty.”
Sentencing, Sheriff McGinty said: “There are a number of factors that concern me in this case.
“The first and foremost is that you have a number of domestic offences on your record.
“You have three previous offences and one of which involving an assault.
“This is a pattern of behaviour that concerns me and what also concerns me is the abuse level on police officers and the abuse on nursing staff.
“Finally, I am concerned generally that people who go to A&E are usually injured, ill, are children, are old people and the last thing they need to see if a drunken thug.
“Charge two took place in the accident and emergency department which puts this very much in the arena of a custodial sentence.
“I won’t even go in to the fact that the report says you urinated within the ward as it isn’t libelled in the charges.
“You are lucky you are not going to custody today.”
Sheriff McGinty ordered Colquhoun of Pier Place in Edinburgh to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the community within 12 months, ordered he wears a tag for three months starting on June 4, and made him subject to supervision of the social work department for 12 months.
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