A quantity surveyor escaped with a judicial telling-off today after getting drunk at a wine-tasting experience then getting 'hangry' and shouting at his wife about a takeaway meal.
John Dougan, 46, who provides services for schools and the prison sector, got "aggressive due to be being hungry" after the cheese-and-wine gathering, Falkirk Sheriff Court was told.
He had gone to bed to sleep off the wine, but woke up later wanting food.
He told his wife, Susan Dougan, she was "incapable of looking after a human being".
Prosector Fiona Griffin said the incident had left Mrs Dougan, 47, "feeling extremely anxious" around him.
The couple are now divorcing.
The court heard the incident occurred on September 26th last year (2021) at the home the couple then shared in Slamannan Road, Falkirk.
Miss Griffin said: "The witness and the accused had been out for a wine tasting experience in Falkirk. They were out until 6.30pm and both had been drinking.
"The accused went to bed due to his level of intoxication.
"He woke up at 11pm and became aggressive to Mrs Dougan due to him being hungry."
Mrs Dougan therefore phoned her sister.
Miss Griffin said: "While on the phone, the accused was heard to be shouting and swearing at Mrs Dougan.
"Police were contacted and the accused continued to shout and swear, which could be heard on the police call.
"He can be heard making various comments addressed at Susan Dougan, about her being incapable of looking after a human being."
The court heard Mrs Dougan, who had been with Dougan for 10 years and married to him for eight, wanted a non harassment put in place for "as long as possible" to prevent him from having contact with her.
Dougan, now of Glasgow, pleaded guilty last October (2021) to committing a domestically-aggravated statutory breach of the peace, and sentence was deferred at that time for him to be of good behaviour.
When he reappeared in court today defence solicitor Derek Buchanan said there had been no subsequent incidents -- and Dougan had no previous history of domestic offending.
He asked the court not to impose a non-harassment order, which would have legally forbidden Dougan from approaching or contacting his estranged wife, because an outstanding order could jeopardise his disclosure status since Dougan's work involved schools, and the Scottish Prison Service.
He said: "This was a completely isolated incident.
"Mr and Mrs Dougan had been to a cheese and wine event, far too much alcohol had been taken, and there was an argument over a carry-in takeaway meal.
"The incident was the end of the relationship and the intention on both sides is to divorce."
Sheriff Derek Livingston admonished Dougan because he had been of good behaviour since the deferral last October.
He said: "The social enquiry report says he loves his wife and misses not being able to talk to her or see her."
But he said he accepted assurances that he would have no further contact with her.
He said: "In the circumstances I'm persuaded it's not necessary to make a non-harassment order on the basis that he has no intention of getting in touch with her.
"If it's found to be otherwise there will be quite serious consequences."
