A violent thug who broke into an East Renfrewshire home and attacked the female homeowner has avoided a jail sentence.
Christopher Crossan broke into a house in Fairweather Place in Newton Mearns on March 21, last year.
Crossan, who appeared in the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court from custody, admitted he stole a mobile phone and £30 in cash from the property after breaking a window to get in.
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The 44-year-old brute then assaulted the female homeowner, wrapping a Hoover cord around her neck when she tried to stop him.
But as a result of being remanded in Low Moss prison, Bishopbriggs, since the incident last year, Crossan was handed an alternative to a custodial sentence.
The procurator fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 2.40pm on Friday, March 21, the accused attended at the home of a woman who is a friend.
“The accused forced a window open and entered through the window.
“He went to the bedroom and took £30 cash along with his female friend’s mobile phone.
“The woman tried to stop him, but Crossan then assaulted her by punching her on the face, placing a hoover cord around her neck and grappling her to the floor.
“Police received a call in which an ongoing disturbance was heard between a male and female, both were shouting at each other.
“Police attended and heard from the street an ongoing disturbance and a female shouting.
“Police entered the property and found Crossan and the woman lying on the floor of the living room.
“Crossan had the female in a headlock.
“Police immediately separated both and arrested the accused.”
Court heard the homeowner was repeatedly shouting that Crossan had stolen her money and phone and that he had assaulted her and tried to strangle her with a vacuum cord.
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The fiscal depute added: “A search of the accused's right trouser pocket revealed a black mobile phone and £30 in cash, in which there were multiple strands of hair matching that of the woman.
“The accused freely stated that the phone belonged to her, and these items were thereafter returned.
“Crossan was thereafter conveyed to Govan Custody where he made no reply to caution and charge.”
Crossan’s defence agent told the town’s court his client “accepts the seriousness” of the offence.
He explained: “The female is someone known to him, she is a friend of his ex-partner.
“They were regularly in each other’s company, consuming drugs.
“He has been in custody since March 24, last year, for this matter.”
Sheriff Thomas Millar stated: “The custody threshold is simply met by your record and the offence alone, but backdating it to your remand date would result in early release.
“This offence is serious, and normally a custodial sentence would be imposed, but you have been in custody since March last year, so any appropriate sentence would result in early release without any support.”
As an alternative to custody, Crossan was made subject to supervision of the social work department for two years.
Sheriff Millar warned: “Should you breach the order, I won’t take into account the time you’ve spent on remand, and you will be looking at a considerable sentence.”
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