A Hawick man was disqualified from owning dogs for three years at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.
Darran Whitelaw, 20, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide a dog called Bella in his care with adequate feeding, whereby she became emaciated.
The offence happened at his Anderson Place home between September and December 19 last year.
A not-guilty plea to an allegation of failing to provide a suitable environment for the dog, which was in a cage in a closed cupboard and in contact with faeces and urine, was accepted by the Crown.
In addition to the ban, Whitelaw was given a community payback order involving 90 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.
HOTEL MANAGER DISQUALIFIED
A hotel manager was found to be almost four times the legal alcohol limit after crashing his car on the A1 near the Scotland/England border in Berwickshire.
Provisional licence holder Bruce Bell, 39, of Main Street, Berwick, was not displaying L plates and had no insurance on June 19.
Depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley said Bell’s vehicle was found on the southbound carriageway of the A1 just after midnight.
She explained: “It had crashed through the central reservation from the northbound carriageway. The vehicle had front-edge damages.
“Northumbria Police had just arrived at the scene and found the accused standing by the stricken vehicle.
“He was unhurt, but there was a smell of alcohol and he stated clearly that he had had a drink. He confirmed he had been driving and he was arrested and taken to Duns police station.”
The lower of two breath samples gave a reading of 82 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22.
Defence lawyer Ross Dow said: “He had been driving on private property, but, with a rush of blood to the head, went onto the A1.
“He fully co-operated with police.”
Bell, who pleaded guilty, was banned from the road for 15 months and fined £200. He received another £200 fine for having no insurance and not displaying L plates.
FIVE TIMES BOOZE LIMIT
A motorist who crashed his car on the way home from a round of golf was found to be more than five times the drink-drive limit.
Derek Elliot appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to the offence which happened in Dean Road, Sprouston, on Saturday evening.
The 45-year-old, of Windywells Farm Cottages, near Kelso, admitted driving with a breath/alcohol reading of 111 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22.
Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said Elliot’s Ford Focus struck another vehicle in Sprouston, landing on its roof and causing substantial damage to both vehicles.
Witnesses who went to his aid said he was smelling of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet after coming out of the car.
Defence solicitor Ross Dow said his client would lose his job as a driver for a garage, adding: “The worst part is he does not usually drink.”
Elliot was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £300 by Sheriff Peter Paterson.
DRUGS FOUND DURING SEARCH
When police saw a Hawick man swaying about on a street, they found him with heroin and cannabis.
Lee Smith, 35, of Mansfield Gardens, admitted possession of the drugs in Glebe Mill Street on April 25. The court heard the heroin was valued at about £40 and the cannabis about £15.
Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said: “Police saw him swaying about, clearly under the influence, at about 7.50pm and decided to speak to him. He was searched and these drugs were found.”
When charged by police, Smith replied: “It was a stupid decision.”
Defence lawyer Rory Bannerman said his client bought the heroin for his own use.
Smith, the unofficial carer for his grandfather, was fined a total of £170.
ORDERED TO APPEAR
A woman has been ordered to appear personally to face a charge of driving while almost five times the alcohol limit.
Dawn Coates, 28, of Northcote Street, Hawick, failed to show at her intermediate hearing, claiming she was ill.
She previously pleaded not guilty to driving a car at Home Terrace, Coldstream, on May 18 with a breath/alcohol reading of 108 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22. She also denies using a car with no insurance.
The first hearing was continued until August 10 with the trial scheduled for August 25.
COMMUNITY PAYBACK ORDER
A Hawick man who admitted a series of offences has been given a 15-month community payback order with supervision.
Barry Hayward, 33, of Howdenbank, previously had sentence deferred in respect of thefts from Sainsbury’s and B&M Bargains in Hawick in March and July of last year.
BAILED ON ASSAULT CHARGE
A man appeared in private, accused of assault to injury and disfigurement.
Twenty-nine-year-old Miroslaw Slomka, from Hawick, also faces a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour.
He made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.
Slomka was granted bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson.