Man jailed after arming himself with spade and knife in Barrhead

Jan 18 2013 by Euan McLelland, Paisley Daily Express

A man who armed himself with a spade and a knife during a heated argument has been jailed for eight months.

Shaun Feeley, formerly of Newton Avenue, Barrhead, admitted the offence when he appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court.

A defence agent urged Sheriff Tom McCartney to refrain from sending his client to prison, saying he had obeyed curfew restrictions put in place since April last year.

He also said that his client had abstained from alcohol since the offence, sought help for underlying alcohol issues, now had a three-month old son and was engaged to be married – and had a job offer.

Feeley, it was stated, had spent a week on remand after his arrest and the experience had shocked him so much he was “terrified” of being sent back to prison.

Depute fiscal John Miller had previously told the court that police were summoned when Feeley, 24, emerged from the house carrying the spade after he had been involved in a disagreement in the street, which others had witnessed.

“Others tried to calm him down,” he said, “and he also had a knife.”

When officers began to look for the accused and went to his home, they were told that Feeley had thrown a kitchen knife out of a window. The spade was recovered and Feeley was questioned and arrested.

“All of those present were heavily intoxicated,” said Mr Miller.

The solicitor said that since Feeley had committed the offence in March, he had settled down to share a house with his fiance in the Easterhouse area of Glasgow and they now had a baby together, which had led him to understand that he had responsibilities which he had to take seriously.

It was stated that he also had underlying psychiatric difficulties which had to be taken into consideration.

He was “extremely anxious” and suffered from bouts of depression.

The lawyer stressed that his client had done all he could to improve his situation in order to avoid being sent back to jail.

“I have seldom come across anyone who is so terrified about the prospect of being sent back to prison,” he said.

Sheriff Tom McCartney said, however, that it was widely known that anyone who armed themselves with offensive weapons could expect a period of detention.

The latest incident occurred within a week of the accused being placed on a community payback order for another offence.

“In all of the circumstances, and having considered all that has been said on your behalf, a prison sentence cannot be avoided,” he said, sending Feeley to jail for eight months, the period reduced due to his early guilty plea.