A brutal hammer attacker who was controversially allowed to walk free from court has admitted abusing his partner just 26 days later.
Finnley McIntyre admitted causing the new mother fear or alarm by acting aggressively, slamming a door, kicking household items around and hurling a pram and a toy at her. McIntyre, 24, admitted abusing his partner on 6 May when he returned to the dock at Perth Sheriff Court and was granted bail to await sentence next month.
Less than a month earlier, he dodged a prison sentence at the same court for smashing a man’s head several times with a hammer. On 10 April, McIntyre was told he had narrowly avoided custody as a sheriff told him he “should be a good role model” to his newly-born child.
McIntyre stormed round to a stranger’s home and repeatedly attacked him with the weapon over concerns about the company his sister was keeping.
Solicitor Lyndsay Barber, defending, told Perth Sheriff Court: “He’s pled guilty to something that will cause the court concern. The view of both parties is to continue the relationship.”
In the previous case, she said: “He is a young man who can apply himself. He is a new father and that has been life-changing, as you would expect. He does not want to consider himself to be a poor role model. If custody is deemed to be inevitable, he will lose critical bonding time with his child. He is an adult and a parent.”
McIntyre, from Perth, admitted assaulting and injuring Kieran Toher on 28 December by striking him repeatedly on the head with a hammer.
Fiscal depute Kate Scarborough told the court: “The complainer was not previously known to the accused. Parties were in the address consuming alcohol when the accused was contacted by someone there. There was an argument between the accused and the complainer on the phone. The accused then attended the address and entered the living room where the complainer was sitting.
“He struck him around three times with a hammer and then left. The complainer contacted an ambulance and was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary. He had wounds to his head.”
Ms Barber said: “He went to his sister’s address. They were estranged from each other and he was concerned about the company she was keeping. There was a relationship which was causing the family concern. Stupidly, he decided to go round. He didn’t need to involve himself, but here he is. Hindsight is wonderful.”
Sheriff Jennifer Bain KC placed McIntyre on a curfew for 136 days and said: “This was a terrible assault. Your use of a hammer on another person is incredibly serious. It could have resulted in death, never mind injury. You seem to have failed to recognise the significance of attacking someone in this way.
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“I’m told you are remorseful, but that is not reflected in the report. It seems there is no expression of insight and no regret. The only regret seems to be about the consequences for yourself. I hope you apply your mind further to that as you try to be a good role model to your child. I am satisfied there is an alternative to a custodial sentence, but only narrowly.”
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