A drunken man who breached his bail after a stag party asked to be remanded, claiming he was likely to reoffend.
Police found Greg Whiteley at a house in Melrose Court, Hawick – in breach of a bail condition not to go there – after he was seen lying drunk in a nearby close.
The 28-year-old, of Weensland Road, Hawick, admitted committing the offence on Saturday.
Defending, Alison Marshall said her client ended up at the address after drinking at a stag do.
“He asks that you consider remanding him as he fears that, if at liberty on bail, he will breach it again,” Miss Marshall told Sheriff Derrick McIntyre. “He says that, if he drinks, he will end up going there,” she added.
The sheriff told Whiteley: “You have asked to be remanded, but I don’t know if you appreciate what it entails, and I am not prepared to do that.”
He released the accused on bail, with a special condition not to drink any alcohol, and deferred sentence for reports until October 18 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
EMBEZZLEMENT ALLEGATION
A couple appeared in private accused of embezzling a six-figure sum.
Brian Shackleton, 59, and his 57-year-old wife, Sandra, made no plea or declaration when they appeared on petition charged with embezzlement at S.B. & Co, Charlesfield Industrial Estate, St Boswells.
The crime is alleged to have happened between April 2007 and August 2012.
The couple, from Newtown St Boswells, were both released on bail.
TEENAGER IN CUSTODY
A teenager who breached a community payback order has been remanded in custody for two weeks.
Nineteen-year-old George Wright, of Hall Street, Walkerburn, admitted the breach when he appeared from custody.
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre refused bail and deferred sentence for a criminal justice social work report until October 2 at Peebles Sheriff Court.
NURSE ASSAULT CHARGE
A joiner who denies assaulting a nurse at Borders General Hospital will stand trial on December 17.
Thomas Muir appeared from custody and denied assaulting a staff nurse and security staff on June 9. The 30-year-old, of Ladyshaw Drive, Selkirk, also pleaded not guilty to being drunk and incapable in Galashiels High Street, and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Sime Place, Galashiels.
An intermediate hearing was set for November 18 and Muir bailed.
FRIGHTENED ON REMAND
A 16-year-old who breached a bail curfew was warned that any further lapse could cost him his liberty.
“You have had a taste of what awaits you if you don’t co-operate,” Sheriff Derrick McIntyre warned accused Jamie Mitchell.
The teenager, of Albert Place, Galashiels, appeared from custody with a badly-bruised eye.
“He received that from another inmate and has found his period on remand a very frightening and very upsetting experience,” said defence solicitor Iain Burke.
He said Mitchell was keen to pursue an army career.
Mitchell admitted failing to comply with a bail curfew at Albert Place, Galashiels, on August 22 and at Forest Hill, Galashiels, on August 24.
Sentence was deferred until October 7 for Children’s Panel advice and Mitchell released on bail, with a 7pm-7am curfew.
SENTENCE DEFERRED
A 16-year-old who admitted a series of road traffic offences had sentence deferred until October 14 for advice from the Children’s Panel.
Jordan Simpson, of Weensland Road, Hawick, appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to taking away a car without the owner’s consent at Leishman Place, Hawick, on August 22, and failing to stop and give his name and address.
He admitted using a car without insurance and while disqualified, failing to stop for police, and driving dangerously at Leishman Place, Princes Street and Dickson Street, Hawick, on August 23.
Simpson also pleaded guilty to breaching a bail curfew.
He further admitted assaulting a police officer and failing to provide a breath specimen at Hawick police station.
Simpson was released on bail with a 6.30pm-8am curfew and a condition not to drink alcohol.
“If you don’t co-operate, you will find yourself back on remand,” warned Sheriff Derrick McIntyre.
FOUR-YEAR DRIVING BAN
A MAN who thought he would be fine to drive the afternoon after a boozy lads’ night out was banned from driving for four year and fined £1,000.
Graham Paton, 38, of Braemar Avenue, Dunblane, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol on July 25 between Greenlaw High Street and the A697 at Thirlestane.
The court heard how the accused had been out in Newcastle the night before and was travelling north when he hit a parked car in Greenlaw.
This brought Paton to the attention of police who stopped him near Lauder. A breath test showed him to have 77mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, more than twice the permitted limit of 35mg.
BREACHED HIS ASBO
Breaching his ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) by contacting his former girlfriend led to a Peebles offender being sent straight back to custody by Sheriff Derek McIntyre.
Appearing from the cells, David Stanton, 28, of Kingsland Square, admitted breaching the conditions of the order imposed on him on May 15 by phoning and texting Lisa Moffat on September 10.
Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said that Ms Moffat, to whom the accused has three children, contacted police and told them that he had been bothering her, asking to get back in touch.
Although Stanton had rung and texted his ex, defence solicitor Mat Patrick said the 28-year-old claimed it was her who got in contact first.
Mr Patrick told the hearing it was police officers’ opinion that there was nothing overtly worrying in the text message sent by Stanton, other than them being unwanted. Calling for reports, Sheriff McIntyre deferred sentence until October 2 and remanded Stanton in custody.
DO NOT DRINK – COURT
A MAN accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner last weekend has been ordered not to drink alcohol.
Michael Ledgerwood was released on bail with an 8pm-8am curfew, with the booze-ban condition.
The 30-year-old, of Hillview, Coldstream, denied attempting to gain entry to premises at Market Square and Hillview, both in the town, and punching a car driver, on Saturday. He also pleaded not guilty to shouting and swearing, and struggling with police officers.
Ledgerwood will stand trial at Duns Sheriff Court on January 15, with an intermediate hearing on December 18.
VEHICLE SEIZED
A driver who failed to provide a breath specimen has had the vehicle she was driving seized.
Karen Campbell, 52, of Station Gardens, Cornhill, admitted failing to provide two breath specimens at Kelso police station on Friday.
A Crown motion for the vehicle she was driving to be seized was granted.
Campbell, who was banned from driving meantime, had sentence deferred for reports until October 23 at Duns Sheriff Court.
Solicitor Ross Dow said his client had spent four nights in custody, adding: “She felt the police were heavy handed, and that is why she failed to comply.”
Shouted and swore
A 22-year-old who shouted and swore in Eyemouth was released on bail with a condition not to enter the town’s Queens Road, or to drink alcohol.
Christopher Ross, of Marine Square, Eyemouth, appeared from custody and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Harbour Road and Queens Road in the town on Saturday.
Sentence was deferred for reports until October 23 at Duns Sheriff Court.
SLAPPED PARTNER
“Stepping over the line” by hitting his partner landed a Hawick man with a £200 fine at Duns Sheriff Court last Wednesday.
Sixty-four-year-old Brian Singleton pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner the previous day at the couple’s home in Morrison Place.
The court heard how the couple had been drinking during the afternoon and the accused had fallen asleep when the woman asked if he wanted anything to eat.
An argument then ensued and Singleton slapped her on the face, causing her to stumble and her glasses to fall off.
When interviewed by police, Singleton described hs partner as a “pisshead” who was drunk and argumentative, adding that she slapped him, so he shoved her away. But shortly after the 64-year-old, who works for a local baking firm, admitted he may have slapped her.
Mat Patrick, defending, said Singleton should have walked away, but “stepped over the line”.