A MAN who threatened to ‘execute’ a Greenock resident after showing up to his flat and trying to kick the door in has been allowed to walk free from court.
The victim of Jamie Keith’s “entirely unacceptable” behaviour has died since the incident on December 31 last year, Greenock Sheriff Court heard.
But Keith was let off with a slap on the wrists – though only after it was revealed that he’s spent more than 18 months behind bars on remand in connection with the case.
Keith pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a property in Drumfrochar Road on December 31, 2023.
The 46-year-old repeatedly kicked a door at the home of a now deceased man, as well as uttering threats of violence towards him.
Keith, who had been remanded at HMP Greenock, was also charged with assaulting the man by striking him on the head with a wrench or similar implement, to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement, on the same date.
However, his plea of not guilty to the assault charge was accepted by the Crown.
Fiscal despite Kirstin Brierley told the court: “During the course of the afternoon, the witness was within his home address.
“At approximately 3:15pm, he heard banging repeatedly from his front door.
“He attended at the front door and met the accused.
“The accused began to act aggressively, gesturing at him, striking his door and shouting at him, and uttering threats and swearing.”
Keith told the man he would ‘execute him’ before fleeing the address.
The complainer contacted police and identified Keith as the perpetrator.
Officers later traced him at his home, where he was arrested and conveyed to Greenock police office.
Defence solicitor Edel McGinty said her client had made his way to the flat to ‘remonstrate’ with the householder there, after his then partner claimed she had been the victim of an assault.
Ms McGinty said Keith was ‘embarrassed’ by his actions on the day.
She told Sheriff Anthony McGeehan that Keith had spent the equivalent of 570 days remanded in custody waiting for the case to come to a conclusion.
Ms McGinty added: “He’s got the support of his family.
“I would invite your lordship to deal with the matter today and allow Mr Keith his liberty.”
Sheriff Anthony McGeehan told Keith his embarrassment was ‘entirely proper’ given the nature of the offence.
He said: “Your behaviour was entirely unacceptable.”
Sheriff McGeehan noted that ‘a number of factors’ required to be considered in sentencing Keith, including the timing of his plea and the time he had already spent on remand.
He told Keith: “In all the circumstances, you will be admonished.”
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