Three windows at the party offices were smashed

Ian Laverick, 46, hit the windows with a hammer while MP Gavin Strang, MSP Susan Deacon and local councillor Maureen Child were inside the office in Portobello High Street in Edinburgh.

The politicians, who were holding their regular monthly constituency meeting, were showered with glass.

The trio were actually opposed to the military action in Iraq and had attended anti-war rallies.

Laverick, of Craigmillar Crescent Court, Edinburgh, admitted maliciously damaging three windows in May.

Good character

Sheriff Richard Scott told him: "This outrageous conduct on your part caused very considerable financial loss.

"In addition, your conduct terrified a number of people who were working in the place where you carried out this demonstration of your feelings."

He said that the offence merited a custodial sentence, but placed Laverick on community service due to his previous good character.

Ms Deacon was showered with glass

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that he had phoned the Portobello office in April to complain about the government's policy on Iraq.

The following month he allegedly spent a sleepless night after watching news footage of Iraqi children injured in a coalition forces cluster bomb attack.

The next day he bought a hammer in the hardware shop next to the Labour Party office.

He was seen staring into the constituency room, then returned to smash three 10ft by 8ft plate glass windows.

He calmly walked away after causing damage estimated at �1,900.

"He simply could not control his anger about Iraqi children being hurt by coalition bombs", fiscal William Frain-Bell said at an earlier hearing.

Loss of life

Defence agent Aamer Anwar said Laverick had been horrified by what he saw on television.

The accused, a practising Christian, said Labour was responsible for the loss of young life and he felt duty-bound to take a stand.

"He made sure nobody was significantly injured by his action," said Mr Anwar.