Banknock dad threatened neighbours and police after drinking 26 bottles of Buckfast

A foul-mouthed dad-of-three threatened neighbours, police and officers’ families following a four-day drinking session in which he consumed 26 bottles of Buckfast.

Thomas Murphy (44), of Viewfield Road, Banknock, told fellow village residents he would blow them up and threatened to batter officers and their relatives “to a pulp”.

Appearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, Murphy had pleaded guilty to behaving threateningly by shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence, repeatedly banging and kicking a door and striking a glass panel at a Banknock property on July 26.

He’d also admitted acting aggressively towards police, shouting, swearing, uttering threats of violence, challenging officers to a fight and uttering racially abusive remarks within a police vehicle whilst en route to Falkirk Police Station.

Thomas Murphy, of Banknock, was fined at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday after he threatened neighbours and police. Picture: Michael Gillen.

The court was told two witnesses heard a loud banging outside their home around 1am.

They saw and recognised Murphy at the front of the property holding a piece of wood.

Procurator fiscal depute Catherine Fraser said: “Police were then contacted and the accused was informed police were coming.

“He then shouted, ‘If you get me the jail, I will blow you up’. He continued banging and kicking the door and a glass panel was broken. He continued shouting and swearing.

Falkirk cocaine dealer avoids jail due to limited criminal record

“Police then arrived. The accused had left prior to their arrival but was traced nearby. Police officers found him in an intoxicated state.

“He gave his name and he was arrested. When he was being conveyed to custody he was banging his head off the cell cage, threatening to try to cut himself.

“He was repeatedly shouting and swearing at the police officers and said, ‘I will batter your faces to a pulp’ and ‘I will do the same to your families’.”

The fiscal told how Murphy also made a derogatory reference to the “English” and claimed his neighbours were “rats” and nobody would stop them “getting it”.

After being arrested, he told officers how he “couldn’t care about criminal justice” and offered them a “square go” in his jail cell.

Explaining the circumstances leading up to the offences, Murphy’s defence solicitor told Sheriff Derek Hamilton: “He seems to have drunk 26 bottles of Buckfast in four days, so one can imagine he wasn’t thinking straight.

“There’s an element of contrition here.

“He’s repeatedly described in the report as a man of minimal risk of re-offending. There are gaps in his offending.”

The court heard Murphy has started a new job and supports three children.

Detailing the “remorse” Murphy had expressed and his lack of offending since, his solicitor asked for him to be fined.

Sheriff Hamilton said: “I’m really quite fed up of all these threats to police and their families.

“They shouldn’t experience that in their day-to-day work. It’s not pleasant.”

Sheriff Hamilton fined Murphy £700 “with some hesitation” and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £40 as an alternative to custody.

The fine is payable at £30 per week.

The Sheriff told his solicitor: “He’ll go straight to custody if he fails to make a payment.”

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/nord/dm/FKH/V