Bellshill man who threw ammonia in neighbour's face JAILED

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard that a quick-thinking police officer doused the victim with water before an ambulance arrived.

We previously reported that Christopher McKelvie, 38, admitted assaulting Steven Kirkwood with the corrosive substance in Cairnlea Gardens, Bellshill, on October 28, 2024.

Fortunately, Mr Kirkwood escaped serious injury.

McKelvie had denied the charge but changed his plea to guilty during his trial.

The prosecution accepted he had acted under provocation from Mr Kirkwood.

PC Colin Blackburn said he and colleagues responded to a 999 call around 4am.

He told the court: "As I entered the house there was a strong smell of ammonia. 

"The injured party had redness to his face and was struggling to open his eyes.

"He said he'd had something thrown in his face and didn't know what it was.

"I took him into the bathroom and spent 10 to 15 minutes dousing his eyes with water from the shower head before an ambulance arrived."

The court heard McKelvie lived in a caravan in the garden of his mother's home in nearby Bankhead Avenue.

PC Blackburn said he went there and found several bottles of household ammonia on open display.

PC Rebecca Stenhouse told Rosemary O'Neill, prosecuting, the 999 call had come from Mr Kirkwood's partner, Amanda Gallagher.

The officer said: "She was extremely upset. She was worried and kept shouting that something had been chucked in her partner's face and she didn't know what.

"Mr Kirkwood was in a state of shock and was worried about what might happen. His eyes were bloodshot."

The couple told the police McKelvie had carried out the assault.

The court was shown CCTV of events leading up to the incident.

At one point Mr Kirkwood was seen carrying a piece of wood and could be heard shouting.

In the footage McKelvie could be heard shouting about his wallet containing £180 that had gone missing.

McKelvie yelled to Mr Kirkwood: "Come on and help me find it. You were there."

Defence lawyer Jackson Bateman said his client had spent 18 months on a curfew after getting bail following an earlier court appearance.

Mr Bateman added: "The court could impose a direct alternative to custody. He knows there could be no slip-ups on his part.

"I would ask the court to step back from imposing a prison sentence."

Sheriff Colin Dunipace said he took account of the provocation and the time spent on a curfew, but told McKelvie: "The court will always take an extremely serious view of anyone throwing ammonia in the face of an individual."