Below par behaviour: Drunks wielded golf club after Dunbar chip shop row

Christopher Forbes, 26, was spotted hanging out a first floor flat window in the town’s High Street by three men waiting on their order at the takeaway.

After engaging in small talk Forbes took offence when he heard one of the group call him “clarty” and he began to act aggressively towards the men.

Forbes shouted from the window he wanted to fight with the man and threatened to stab him.

He hurled homophobic abuse at and “an altercation” broke out on the street at around 5pm on April 21 this year, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard.

Forbes’ partner Claire Ingle, who lives in Dunbar, then appeared on the street carrying a golf club and started “waving” it at the group before chasing after one of the men along the High Street.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told Forbes then used the club to smash the men’s car windscreen, causing £330 worth of damage..

Police were called and both attackers were cautioned and charged. The incident was also said to have been captured on street CCTV.

Forbes pleaded guilty to two charges including behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, uttering homophobic remarks, challenging the men to fight with him, brandish a golf club at them and place them in a state of fear and alarm.

He also admitted to wilfully or recklessly destroying property belonging to another by striking a vehicle and causing it damage during the incident on April 21 this year.

Co-accused Ingle, 26, failed to appear at court but her guilty plea to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, uttering homophobic remarks, challenging the men to fight, brandish a golf club at them and place them in a state of fear and alarm was accepted in her absence.

Forbes’ lawyer Mark Hutchison said he was “the only one injured” during “the stramash” and he had to be treated by paramedics after being “struck more than once”.

Sheriff Donald Corke fined both Ingle and Forbes £270. Forbes was also given a £330 compensation order to cover the damage to the vehicle.

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