A recovering heroin addict threatened to blow up a couple’s car and slash them in front of their child.
Garry Murphy, 32, who has no fixed address, pled guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening manner and forcing entry into a property at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday.
The court heard that Murphy had met a woman he knew in a Boots store in October this year, and was angry about a text message he thought she had sent to a former partner.
The woman returned to her home in Cambuslang, where she lived with her partner and their 13-year-old child.
At around 5.30pm Murphy broke into the house and started threatening the family in the living room, shouting and swearing at them.
He then asked again about the text message, and challenged the woman’s partner to a “square go” outside.
Having managed to get Murphy out, the couple tried to lock the door but the 32-year-old forced his way back in.
The court heard Murphy was “highly intoxicated” at the time and was shouting “You’re getting slashed. Your car is getting blown up. You’re dead.”
Police were called and found the couple upset and shaken.
Officers found Murphy “under the influence of something” when they arrested him and took him to the police station.
His defence agent said Murphy sustained a facial injury and an injury to his finger during the incident.
He also said: “He is now back residing with his partner and they have two children together.
“He is engaging with addiction services and is no longer using heroin. Following a period of relapse he seems to be back on a much more steady path”.
The solicitor asked Sheriff Liddell to take into consideration his efforts in tackling his addiction.
The sheriff sentenced Murphy to a four-month restriction of liberty order, reduced from six months for tendering an early guilty plea.
Murphy will have to be electronically monitored and will be required to stay at home between 9pm and 7am every day.
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