A drunken man who assaulted three people after being refused entry to a house was sentenced to a 12-month community payback order with 200 hours of unpaid work.
Raymond Thomson, 18, who lives at Violet Bank, Peebles, appeared from custody and admitted grabbing a 19-year-old and pushing his thumb into his eye at a house in Kingsmuir Crescent in the town on May 9.
Prosecuting at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday, Graham Fraser said: “There were a number of people in the house when the accused turned up. It was immediately obvious he was intoxicated through drink or drugs, and he was refused entry because of his state, but he went in anyway.”
Mr Fraser described Thomson as confrontational, adding: “He approached a 19-year-old and placed his thumb into his eye.”
The prosecutor said the “terrified” teenager, whose T-shirt was also ripped, fled to a neighbour’s house.
Thomson also pleaded guilty to grabbing a 29-year-old man by the throat.
“He turned his attentions to this man and seized him by the neck and tried to strike his elbow in his face,” explained Mr Fraser.
Thomson also admitted punching a 25-year-old in the face after he entered the house and tried to calm him down.
Mr Fraser said: “He lashed out and punched him in the face before a number of people restrained the accused and put him out into the garden.”
Thomson left by taxi and was later traced by police.
Mat Patrick, defending, said his client knew the people involved and regarded them as friends, adding: “He was at this house on a regular basis, but when he turned up was refused access.”
The lawyer said Thomson had taken alcohol and Valium prior to the offences.
Sheriff John Halley, describing the offences as “very serious”, said: “I am concerned by what I regard as a pattern of disorderly behaviour.”
He also ordered that Thomson – who had been on remand since May 12 – be on supervision for 18 months with a focus to address his alcohol and drug issues, as well as anger management.