A FIREMAN who branded his wife a liar after bursting into her new partner’s home and finding them in bed together has been spared jail.

Heartbroken Sean Kersse guessed his wife Ann would be at Anthony Hughes’ home in Glenpatrick Road, Elderslie.

He forced his way into the property and found the couple in bed after they had been on a dinner date.

The irate firefighter then vented his frustration before leaving the scene but was arrested later.

Kersse was accused of assaulting Mr Hughes by repeatedly throwing punches at him but pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive way by forcing entry to the property and shouting at his wife.

Procurator fiscal depute Laura Wilcox said Kersse smashed his way into Mr Hughes’ home in the early hours of July 15 this year.

She told Paisley Sheriff Court: “At midnight on July 15, both Mrs Kersse and Mr Hughes went to bed and he made sure his front door was secure.

“At 5.21am, both were sleeping in bed when they heard a loud bang at the front door.

“Both witnesses got out of bed and, as they did, heard a loud bang and the bedroom door opened quickly and both witnesses observed the now-accused standing there.

“Mr Hughes confronted Mr Kersse for overcoming the security of his front door and Mr Kersse began to shout, referring to the witness, Ann Kersse, as a liar.

“This shouting has been aggressive and the whole incident lasted around one minute, before the accused made off.”

Conviction had been deferred for background reports to be prepared and Kersse returned to the dock on Monday to learn his fate.

Defence solicitor James Arrol asked Sheriff Craig Harris to grant him an absolute discharge, which would mean he would receive no criminal record and no punishment.

Mr Arrol also asked that, if convicted, Kersse be admonished – meaning that, although he was left with a criminal conviction, he would receive no punishment.

He pointed out that Kersse, who has been a firefighter for 22 years and recently received a medal for good conduct and long service, was the subject of disciplinary proceedings for “gross misconduct” amid claims his actions had brought the fire service into disrepute.

Mr Arrol told the judge that Kersse had been diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor, which will require either radiotherapy or surgery.

However, Sheriff Harris ruled the case was too serious to be dealt with by way of an absolute discharge and said that, as well as being convicted, Kersse had to be punished.

He said the offence could have attracted a jail term of up to 12 months but added: “In your circumstances, an alternative to a custodial sentence is the most appropriate way of dealing with the case.”

Sheriff Harris then placed Kersse, of Dee Crescent, Paisley, on a Community Payback Order, giving him six months to complete a total of 90 hours of unpaid work, reduced from 100 hours because he had admitted his guilt.

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