A Fife man who vowed to petrol bomb his ex-partner’s car and threatened maternity ward staff just hours after the birth of his son has been jailed for almost a year.
Liam Morgan’s actions were branded “quite disgraceful” by Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC when he appeared from custody to face sentencing at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Morgan, 31, of Valley Gardens, Kirkcaldy, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at an address in Lawson Street by shouting and swearing at his former partner and her mother and throwing items around the garden on April 15.
He also admitted contacting the woman’s mum five days later and threatening to petrol bomb his ex’s car, as well as acting in a threatening and abusive manner on May 11 by shouting, swearing, repeatedly banging his head against the inside of a police vehicle, challenging a police officer to a fight and repeatedly making threats towards the officer in Valley Gardens.
Morgan was also sentenced for an incident at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital on December 18 2018, in which he assaulted, obstructed or hindered two nurses by repeatedly shouting and swearing at them and acted in an aggressive manner.
Depute fiscal Nicola Henderson told the court Morgan and his former partner had been in a relationship for around four years but had separated.
She said his ex suffered a stroke in 2017, has poor mobility and suffers from seizures.
The woman gave birth to his son in the early hours of December 18 2018. At around 3.25pm Morgan arrived at the maternity ward and took issue with the fact that he was told only two visitors were allowed.
Ms Henderson said Morgan barged past an auxiliary nurse to get into the main reception area, before a senior charge nurse asked him to lower his voice.
Morgan started swearing, shouting and pointing in the nurse’s face.
“The witness felt intimidated and frightened by the accused and contacted the police,” Ms Henderson said.
“The locus is effectively an entrance to what was a busy ward full of new and expectant mothers and fathers, and the accused caused distress to a number of patients.”
Sheriff Gilchrist QC sentenced Morgan to four-and-a-half months for April and May’s offences, and a further five-and-a-half months for the maternity ward incident.
The sheriff also imposed a further 28 days imprisonment for Morgan’s non-payment of fines totalling £750.
