Brandy swigging Grangemouth oil rig worker howled like a dog during domestic disturbance

Alan Watson (44), 43 Tweed Street, Grangemouth, appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday having pled guilty to behaving in a threatening manner in Caledonian Court, Falkirk between February 25 and February 26.

Katie Cunningham, procurator fiscal depute, said: “The complainer was in her home with her son. The accused had consumed a bottle of brandy, saying he had a sore throat.

“As the evening went on he turned the television up louder and louder and got increasingly drunk. He asked the complainer if she wanted to come downstairs for a drink.

“He began to make animal noises and was howling like a dog. Then he said to the complainer ‘revenge is sweet – I’ve got two videos that will be getting posted online’.

“She believed the accused was making this up because there were no videos she was aware of. The accused then called the complainer’s son a spastic. This behaviour went on for some time.”

The complainer had actually been forced to turn off the wi-fi because Watson had been turning the television up so loud.

Police were eventually called and Watson was arrested and taken to Falkirk Police Station.

The court heard the relationship, which Watson described as toxic, between the couple was almost over at the time of the offence.

It was stated Watson had no “domestic difficulties” during his previous four relationships.

The videos he threatened to post online were not of a sexual nature, rather he said they showed the complainer being abusive towards him.

The court heard offshore worker Watson – who was said to have cut back on his alcohol consumption since the offence – was going to be returning to Forres, where he is originally from.

Sheriff Derek Livingston said: “Your behaviour was quite unacceptable.”

He placed Watson on a six-month supervised community payback order with the condition he complete 80 hours unpaid work within 12 months. He was also made subject to a two-year non harassment order not to have any contact with his former partner in that time.