Asbo bans man from drinking for 18 months
6 Sep 06
Oban man sentenced after assault on bar steward
An antisocial behaviour order has been used to ban a man from drinking in what is believed to be the first instance of its kind in Scotland.
The ASBO prohibits Oban man Greig MacIntyre, 27, from drinking for 18 months. At the town's sheriff court yesterday, he pled guilty to an assault after having been drinking.
MacIntyre assaulted a steward from the town's Cellar Bar on 24 February by headbutting him on the face. The assault happened after the steward evicted MacIntyre and two friends from the bar.
MacIntyre's solicitor said his client was ashamed of what he had done, which he claimed happened because he had been drinking earlier in the day than usual.
Sheriff Charles Macnair told MacIntyre he had considered a custodial sentence because he had a lengthy record of violent crime. However, a favourable social background report led to the sheriff asking him if he would accept the conditions of an Asbo banning him from drinking alcohol of any sort in any place for 18 months. He was warned that if he breached this order, he would be arrested.
Most Asbo orders relating to drinking forbid people from getting drunk, rather than not drinking at all.
MacIntyre was also sentenced to 240 hours of community service.