Projected population of Scottish Borders:
2012 - 113,710
2037 - 113,725
Residents under 65:
2012 - 88,774
2037 - 73,712
Residents over 75:
2012 - 11,072 (5,002 living alone)
2037 - 21,610 (8,928 living alone)
Borderers 90+ living at home:
2012 - 808
2037 - 2,903
Rescuers have a cut a man free from the wreckage of a multi-vehicle crash on the A7 north of Galashiels.
He’s been taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh but the state of his injuries aren’t yet known.
The crash happened around 9.30 this morning (Monday) and Scottish Fire and Rescue crews responded from Galashiels, Dalkeith and Newtongrange.
Rescuers used hydraulic cutting gear to remove the roof from one of the vehicles.
The trapped man was freed shortly before 10.30am.
The A7 is closed at the scene and diversions are in place at Stow and Middleton.
First Bus X95 service has been cancelled meantime.
Health chiefs have moved swiftly to reassure the public over recent discoveries of poorly cleaned patient equipment at the BGH.
NHS Borders was responding to a report by the Healthcare Environment Inspectorate issued today (Tuesday, August 12), following an unannounced visit to the Borders General Hospital in June.
The purpose of the inspection was to assess progression on the six requirements and one recommendation made at previous inspections in October and November, 2013.
The report says NHS Borders has fully met four of the requirements from last year’s inspection in relation to the sharps management policy, linen management within the Special Care Baby Unit, appropriate storage of breast milk and the enhancement of bathing facilities in Ward 12.
NHS Borders has also partially met the requirement around full completion of documentation relating to peripheral vascular catheter insertion.
However, on the day of inspection, the inspectors identified patient equipment within two wards that had not been cleaned to the standard expected.
These findings led to the conclusion that the requirement to ensure that ‘all patient equipment is clean and ready for use’ was deemed not to have been met.
Director of Nursing and Midwifery at NHS Borders, Evelyn Rodger, said: “Whilst we are pleased the majority of requirements from last year have been met, the findings and photographs taken of inappropriately cleaned equipment on the day of inspection were completely unacceptable.
“I would like to give my assurance that these were isolated incidents and that immediate action was taken to ensure that these one off matters remain precisely that.”
The actions of those of who have vandalised ‘Yes’ signs across the Borders has been criticised by the chairman of Yes Scottish Borders.
At least six incidents have been reported in recent weeks, including the theft of three signs in Berwickshire and vandalism to signs near Jedburgh and in Walkerburn and Peebles.
Independence campaigners have alleged vandals attacked one sign with a hammer before throwing pieces of it on to the A72.
Yes Scottish Borders chairman Calum Kerr said: “It’s important that people are able to show their support without fear of criminal damage to, or theft from, their property.
“I call upon Better Together to condemn this activity, which we know is from a minority, but is becoming far too common an occurrence.”
He added: “If these people are so convinced of their case I don’t understand why they don’t put it to the people of the Borders instead of getting involved in this childish, and in some cases dangerous, behaviour.”
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that it is investigating recent acts of vandalism.
“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101.”
Dozens of youngsters had their swimming lessons at Kelso pool curtailed this afternoon (Tuesday) after someone had what Borders Sport & Leisure Trust called a ‘little accident’.
A trust spokesperson told The Southern this was the third such incident in the last month at the Kelso pool, all of which required a complete pool closure.
With over 600 youngsters learning to swim each week, such incidents have a major knock-on effect for all pool users.
“Each time it happens, we have to carry out two or three back washes, which means reversing the flow of the water through the filters to catch all the excrement,” said the spokesperson.
“Staff have to go in during the night to do this as each one takes hours. They also have to vacuum the pool tank too.
“It does have a serious side as if not dealt with properly people can get Cryptosporidium. We’d like to remind parents to take their little ones to the toilet prior to going into the pool or, if needed, wear a swimmer nappy.
“With the last three instances the offenders did not even let us know it had happened and it was a member of staff who ‘spotted’ the problem and had to evacuate the pool.”
Police have confirmed that a man has been found dead on a farm in the Scottish Borders.
The discovery was made earlier today (Tuesday) at Heriot Hill Farm about 18 miles on the Edinburgh side of Galashiels.
It’s being treated as a workplace accident and is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police responded to an incident at Heriot Hill Farm, Heriot at around 1.20am on Tuesday, August 12, where the body of a 64-year-old male industrial worker was found.
“Officers are liaising with the Health and Safety Executive during this enquiry.”
No further derails have been made available.
Life in Selkirk during the First World War is being revealed in daily online postings by staff at Hawick Heritage Hub, following the donation of a doctor’s diaries.
Descendents of Dr John Stewart Muir gave his diaries to the hub’s archives team just in time for staff to post his daily entries from the start of the war online.
As well as providing an insight into Dr Muir’s work, his diaries also reveal attitudes towards the war, and how it affected the town, and its residents.
The entries are being posted on the Heritage Hub’s Tumblr website at 10am each day.
Paul Brough, archive manager, said: “We are as much on a voyage of discovery as everyone else, as we are only working on the diary a fortnight ahead.”
He added: “The diaries run from 1891 to 1938, when Dr Muir died, and we are going to carry on posting the entries for as long as we can, but definitely plan to run those from the First World War period.”
Among the entries already online is that from August 4, 1914, in which Dr Muir states: “Only a slight shower. Pleasant day with some sunshine. Baptie went on his holiday. River in tip top order and I wish I could have fished. Cycled to Ashiestiel and saw some 10 town cases.
“The imminence of war is the all-absorbing topic and the telegrams in the Southern Reporter window are scanned by eager crowds. The Territorials have been called out.”
The only certainty about British weather is its uncertainty and that any long spell of good weather tends to end dramatically.
That happened again at the weekend, although in spite of torrential rain and strong winds the north of England and the Borders got off relatively lightly compared with what the tail end of hurricane Bertha did to the south of England. However, even that tail end inflicted some damage on standing crops in our area. The forecast now is for a cool, showery rest of August. We shall see.
Compared with the genuine horrors of the world – deaths in Gaza, massacres in Iraq, fighting in Ukraine, Ebola virus, to take a random recent news bulletin – damage to grain crops from the last gasps of a hurricane should be put in perspective. But it’s human nature to worry most about what’s happening closer to home and that can be horrifying enough as with last week’s death of a teenager on a Borders farm, suffocated in a grain silo.
If age and experience hadn’t inured me to irony and coincidence both terms might have been used to note that the death, not long after the death of Lauder farmer Jim Sharp in a grain store, was in the same week that a farm safety partnership was announced between the Scottish government, NFU Scotland, NFU Mutual insurance and the Health and Safety Executive. “Working together to save lives” will try to prevent further additions to the almost 80 deaths – men, women and children – on Scottish farms in the past ten years. Not forgetting those, many of them, who have been badly injured, crippled or paralysed.
By the nature of modern farming, with increasing reliance on machinery and fewer human beings, many of these deaths and crippling accidents happen when someone is working alone. No one else will ever know precisely what happened and it would be wrong to apportion blame. But every single one of us involved with anything to do with a farm must be more aware of the inherent dangers of falls, animals, transport and equipment (FATE is the useful reminder) of any kind. Please.
The loneliness and stretched resources of many sectors of modern farming is also, without doubt, behind the steady increase in rural crime. Up another five per cent last year to cost the industry more than £44 million, the biggest increase has been in stealing livestock. At one time an occasional sheep might disappear from a field, taken by an opportunistic criminal. Now more than 100 sheep and several dozen cattle at a time are being taken. That’s organised and professional by experienced stockmen/women. They must also have immediate outlets, as do those stealing tractors and quad bikes.
Farm fuel tanks have long beeen a target, but, worryingly, chemicals and fertilisers are increasingly being stolen. As with the livestock, that suggests professionals who know exactly what they’re looking for and have a black market buyer or are stealing to order. There’s no doubt that fewer people on farms are making theft of any kind easier.
Angered to see his pregnant ex-partner out in the early hours of the morning, Daniel Stewart shouted and swore at her.
The 24-year-old, of Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, appeared from custody and admitted threatening and abusive behaviour in Channel Street, Galashiels, on Saturday.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said the woman was pregnant with the accused’s child, but they had split up some two months’ earlier.
She was standing waiting for a taxi at 1am when Stewart came staggering towards her, shouting and swearing.
“He was unsteady on his feet and began shouting and swearing at her,” continued Ms Bradley. He threatened: “Give me my f*****g house keys, or you’ll get done in.”
Stewart told police he was concerned to see her out at that time of the morning when she was pregnant. Stewart was sentenced to a community payback order with 70 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.
“This is a direct alternative to custody,” warned Sheriff Peter Paterson.
The subject of next month’s independence referendum cropped up during a visit to Galashiels by Scottish Secretary, Alistair Carmichael.
Mr Carmichael was in the Borders to visit Nether Road-based firm, Sykes Global Services.
Sykes is an expert in order fulfilment and has an impressive list of clients, including Proctor & Gamble, Tesco, and crisp manufacturer Pringles.
Sykes has built itself up to be a major player in the market, thanks to a combination of an extremely efficient operating model and a focus on excellent customer service.
Mr Carmichael, who was accompanied by local MP Michael Moore, told The Southern he had been impressed by what he had seen on his first visit to the company.
“I was certainly very impressed by what they are doing at Sykes. They are innovative and continually looking to add value to the service they give to customers,” he told us.
Mr Carmichael met staff and members of the company’s management team, and said the looming referendum was among the issues discussed.
He said: “Everyone I meet at the moment naturally wants to talk about the independence referendum. For a company like this, with a global reach, a single integrated UK market is very important.”
Sykes director, Les Torrance, added: “We appreciated the opportunity to showcase our business services, which have been in the Borders for generations.”
A drugs suspect fled from police and threw something into a nearby river, Selkirk Sheriff Court heard on Monday.
Darren Crawford put his hand to his mouth and appeared to be choking after officers told him he was to be searched for drugs. He then broke free, ran over a nearby bridge and threw a golf-ball sized item into the Gala Water.
Crawford, 30, of Lothian Street, Hawick, admitted obstructing police officers in Galashiels on May 15, removing an item from his mouth and throwing it into the river.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said two plain-clothes police officers saw the accused get off a bus in Currie Road. They approached him and told him to stop, but he turned away and continued walking.
She added: “They caught up with him and stood in front of him. He appeared anxious and tried to walk away again.”
When Crawford was told he was being searched, he put his hand to his mouth and started choking.
Ms Bradley continued: “One officer went to grab him, but he broke free and ran towards Ladhope Vale with the officers pursuing him on foot.
“As he went over the bridge he threw what he had taken from his mouth – which was almost the size of a golf ball – into the river.”
Police caught up with him and he was handcuffed, telling them: “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, I panicked. It was just a bit of bud.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until November 10 for Crawford to be of good behaviour.
He had earlier placed Crawford on a two-year DTTO (Drug Treatment and Testing Order) after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin and diamorphine at Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, on March 6.
The sheriff warned Crawford: “You have a serious record and this is very much your last chance, or you will end up in jail.”
A teenage lager thief has been remanded in custody for reports.
Macrae Fairbairn, 19, of Inchmyre, Kelso, admitted breaching a bail curfew and stealing two 10-packs of lager from the Co-op in Kelso, on July 25. He will be sentenced on August 29.
Witnesses are being sought by police after the driver of a car hit a vehicle in Hawick and failed to stop.
The incident happened at around 11.15pm on Monday evening in McLaren Court, when it is believed that a green or dark coloured Ford Mondeo or similar vehicle hit a Land Rover Freelander which was parked up.
Significant damage was caused to the Land Rover.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward who may have information that can trace the driver of the car.
PC Ian Robertson said: “Any information to assist this enquiry would be greatly appreciated and this can be relayed to either Hawick Police Station for the attention of myself by calling police on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
wooler
At their weekly sale of primestock last Wednesday John Swan Ltf had forward and sold 1,251 lambs and 442 ewes.
Lamb numbers tighter and all classes dearer on the week smart in-spec sheep very dear.
Lambs, leading prices per head:- Tex.x:- £85 Lorbottle, £82 Wandon, £81.50 South Bellshill, £80 Black Heddon, £79.50 Yetlington Lane, £79 South Bellshill, £78.50 South Charlton and Lorbottle, £78 Cresswell Farms, Bewick Folly and Wandon. Bel.x:- £83.50 Chillingham Home Farm, £83 Henlaw, £82.50 Ladykirk. Suff.x:- £82 Yetlington Lane. Chev:- £77 Humbleheugh, CM:- £73.50 Linbrig.
Lambs, leading prices per kilo:- Bel.x:- 225.7p, 201.4p, 196.2p Chillingham Home Farm, 204.1p, 196.4p Ladykirk, 184.4p, 183.8p Henlaw. Tex.x:- 196.2p Ladykirk, 188.5p Shipley Smallburns, 187.5p Yetlington Lane, 186.3p Black Heddon. Suff.x:- 194.7p Lilburn Estates, 182.2p Yetlington Lane. CM:- 182.9p Linbrig.
A larger show of ewes on offer with 51.35% of the sale horned ewes, averages look easier but all classes dear
Leading prices:- Tex.x:- £100 Edlingham Demesne and Ford Dairy, £97 Black Heddon, £94 Lilburn Estates, £93 Cresswell Farms, £87 Cresswell Farms, £86 Edlingham Demesne, £84 Ford Dairy. BFL:- £100, £93 Lilburn Estates. Suff.x:- £90 Lilburn Estates, £87 West Longridge, £85 Edlingham Demesne, £84 Chillingham Home Farm. CM:- £86 South Charlton. Mule:- £79 Milfield Demesne. BF:- £69 Alnham, £62 Clennell.
St boswells
At their weekly primestock sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 75 clean cattle, 54 OTM cattle, 2,086 new season lambs and 575 ewes.
Bullocks (34) averaged 206.6p per kg and sold to 240p (+0.4p on week), heifers (40) averaged 214.9p per kg and sold to 237p (+6.4p on week) and 54 beef type OTM cattle averaged 117.9p per kg and sold to 163p (n/c on the week). One young bull sold to 160p (n/c on the week).
New season lambs averaged 1.68p per kg (-5p on the week) and sold to £90, top price 188p per kg for Texel. Ewes averaged £66.27, and sold to £121 for Texel. Heavy ewes averaged £75.96, Light ewes sold to £79.
Principal prices per head: Longnewton £1508.98; Milrighall £1429.92, £1408.68; Lennoxlove £1424.64, Butchercote £1409.76.
Principal prices per kg: Greenknowe 2.40 Linton Butchers, 2.39, 2.33 Malone of Edinburgh, 2.32 Colin Peat; Greenknowe 2.37 Shaws of Lauder. Longnewton 2.36 Robert Pringle, 2.34 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Faughhill 2.34 Kevin Watt Butchers; Sourhope 2.31 M/s J Gilmour and Co Ltd; Bee Edge 2.30 Shaws of Lauder, 2.29 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Butchercote 2.28 Malone of Edinburgh; Lennoxlove 2.28 Shaws of Lauder.
Bulls: Humbie Mill £1300.20 (1.10): Whitriggs £1077.38 (1.03); Allanshaws £868.60 (1.01).
Cows per head: Wester Middleton £184.22, £1138.36, £1125.18, £1108.40; Brockley Hall £1174.50; Butchercote £1055.34; Woodhouse. J £1015.20; Bemersyde £1011.70; Corsbie £982.50; Mosshill £975; Stewards Cott.; Bow £894.08, £882.66; Northfield St Abbs £890.11.
Cows per kg: Wester Middleton 1.63, 1.53, 1.49, 1.41; Bemersyde 1.51; Brockley Hall 1.45; Butchercote 1.43; Bow 1.41; Woodhouse. J 1.41, 1.35, 1.33, 1.31; Corsbie 1.31; Birkenside 1.29; Northfield St Abbs 1.29.
New season lambs per head: Suff.x £90 Broadmeadows, £86 Threepwood and Upper Nisbet, £85 Huntington, Tex;- £89, £87.50, £86.50 Huntington, £85 West Moneylaws and Crailing Nook, Chev;- £87 Wester Ulston, £75, £72 Blegbie, Bel;- £80 Fountainhall, £76, £75 Faughhill, MB;- £74 Craigend, HB;- £71 Stobshiel, ML;- £70.50 Whitmuir, Ham;- £68.50 Blackburn Mill.
New season lambs per kg: Tex;- 1.88, 1.85 Lower Ashtrees, 1.86 Huntington, Suff.x;- 1.84 Huntington, 1.80 Broadmeadows, 1.77 Lauder Barns and Blackburn Mill, Bel;- 1.75 Craiglea, 1.74 Threeburnford, 1.72 Faughhill, MB;- 1.72 Craiglea, Char;- 1.72 Woodhouse. J, 1.71 Upper Chatto.
Ewes: Tex;- £115 Wanton Walls, £111 Blackadder Mains, £105 Upper Bolton and Bogend, Suff;- £95 Brotherstone, £91 Upper Bolton, Suff.x;- £95 Hermiston, £91 Cortleferry, £89 Inchkeith, HB;- £93 Smailholm Mains, £77 Haltree, Chev;- £89, £73 Stobshiel Mains, £79 Crailinghall and Blegbie, Char;- £85 Ruletownhead and Carterhaugh, GF;- £79 Hermiston, £73 Hartwoodmyres and Ashcraig, BF;- £55, £51 Benson Wemyss, £53 The Peel.
Rams: Tex;- £121 Blackadder Mains & Cortleferry, Suff;- £109 Haltree, EC;- £81 Mill Farm.
longtown
The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart plc had forward 20 prime cattle, three young bulls, 14 over 30 month cattle, 3,346 prime lambs and 5,908 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.
A similar number of 20 cattle forward saw handy weight cattle sharper with the heavy cattle on a par to last week’s trade. Top price of 216.5p for a Limousin heifer shown by A. and W.J. Taylor and Son, Dashwellgreen.
A mixed show of 14 cast cows met a firm trade and topped at 128.5p for a British Blue from W.S. Waugh, The Flatt.
The annual show of sale of young handlers’ lambs was kindly sponsored by Farmers Guardian Ltd and ably judged by Mr. Chris Brodie who awarded the following prizes:
The Champion was awarded to a Beltex Lamb from Miss Alexandra Bouch scaling 43kg and realising £170 (395p) to Messrs Lennox, Wick Farm Meats,Colchester, Essex. Reserve Champion Lewis Little £126 39kg (323p) to M. Lomax.
Longtown Young Farmers Club prize show and sale of prime lambs kindly sponsored by Tarff Valley Feeds and again judged by Mr Chris Brodie who awarded the following prizes: Single Lamb - Champion, Robert Carruthers scaling 46kg realising £110 to Master Charlie Tucker; Reserve Champion, Rory Beard 39kg £86 to A. Dawson
A smaller show of 3,346 prime lambs were forward to a busy ring of buyers with new faces present. All classes of lambs sold better on the week, resulting in an average of 175p per kilo.
A very large show of 5,908 cast ewes and rams were forward to a busy ring of buyers.
A Hawick youth who took three golf buggies for a joyride has been ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaidwork at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
Reece Bridges,17, pleaded guilty to stealing the motorised buggies overnight on July 16 from Hawick Golf Club and also damaging a fence.
Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports on another complaint of struggling violently with his aunt and threatening to burn her house down on June 30.
In last week’s edition it was stated that the court had been told the teenager was wanted for alleged sexual offences in England which it now transpires was an error.
Sean Johnston, 22, of Scott Street, Galashiels, admitted stealing £78.82 worth of meat from Marks and Spencer’s store in Gala Water Retail Park, on July 24.
There was no recovery of the items and sentence was deferred until September 8 for reports.
The only certainty about British weather is its uncertainty and that any long spell of good weather tends to end dramatically.
That happened again at the weekend, although in spite of torrential rain and strong winds the north of England and the Borders got off relatively lightly compared with what the tail end of hurricane Bertha did to the south of England. However, even that tail end inflicted some damage on standing crops in our area. The forecast now is for a cool, showery rest of August. We shall see.
Compared with the genuine horrors of the world – deaths in Gaza, massacres in Iraq, fighting in Ukraine, Ebola virus, to take a random recent news bulletin – damage to grain crops from the last gasps of a hurricane should be put in perspective. But it’s human nature to worry most about what’s happening closer to home and that can be horrifying enough as with last week’s death of a teenager on a Borders farm, suffocated in a grain silo.
If age and experience hadn’t inured me to irony and coincidence both terms might have been used to note that the death, not long after the death of Lauder farmer Jim Sharp in a grain store, was in the same week that a farm safety partnership was announced between the Scottish government, NFU Scotland, NFU Mutual insurance and the Health and Safety Executive. “Working together to save lives” will try to prevent further additions to the almost 80 deaths – men, women and children – on Scottish farms in the past ten years. Not forgetting those, many of them, who have been badly injured, crippled or paralysed.
By the nature of modern farming, with increasing reliance on machinery and fewer human beings, many of these deaths and crippling accidents happen when someone is working alone. No one else will ever know precisely what happened and it would be wrong to apportion blame. But every single one of us involved with anything to do with a farm must be more aware of the inherent dangers of falls, animals, transport and equipment (FATE is the useful reminder) of any kind. Please.
The loneliness and stretched resources of many sectors of modern farming is also, without doubt, behind the steady increase in rural crime. Up another five per cent last year to cost the industry more than £44 million, the biggest increase has been in stealing livestock. At one time an occasional sheep might disappear from a field, taken by an opportunistic criminal. Now more than 100 sheep and several dozen cattle at a time are being taken. That’s organised and professional by experienced stockmen/women. They must also have immediate outlets, as do those stealing tractors and quad bikes.
Farm fuel tanks have long beeen a target, but, worryingly, chemicals and fertilisers are increasingly being stolen. As with the livestock, that suggests professionals who know exactly what they’re looking for and have a black market buyer or are stealing to order. There’s no doubt that fewer people on farms are making theft of any kind easier.
A Selkirk man who has only six months to live was jailed after clocking up his eighth conviction for driving while banned.
Robert Davidson, 54, was stopped by police late on Thursday night and appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court the following morning when he admitted driving while banned and with no insurance.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said it was his eighth conviction for driving while disqualified and with no insurance.
He explained that at around 11pm police got a call that Davidson, of Back Row, Selkirk, may be driving while disqualified.
Mr Fraser added: “He was stopped in Douglas Place, Selkirk, and had a front and rear-seat passenger in the car.”
His lawyer, Rory Bannerman, said his client had a heart problem and had been diagnosed with only six months to live. Davidson had suffered a heart attack following his last conviction in Berwick in April.
Mr Bannerman added: “It was a friend’s car which was insured. He only drove a short distance, but it is enough if you are already disqualified.”
He urged for reports to be called for to determine whether an alternative to custody could be found.
But jailing Davidson for four months and banning him from the road for four years, Sheriff Kevin Drummond told him he clearly had “no consideration for issues of public safety”.
He added: “You have been in prison on a significant number of occasions for the self-same offence as recent as April this year. You have no regard for court orders in relation to your driving.
“Your health matters can be dealt with in the prison system.”
The sheriff reduced the sentence from six months to due to an early guilty plea.
Police patrolling the Langlee area of Galashiels, following reports of drug-dealing, found Stephen Milliken with heroin in his possession.
The 31-year-old had bought the illegal drug for his own use, saying he planned to smoke it.
Milliken of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, admitted possession of diamorphine at Melrose Road, Galashiels on June 9.
“Two police officers in plain clothes were on patrol in the Langlee area after reports of controlled drugs being dealt in the street,” said prosecutor Tessa Bradley. “They saw the accused and a female, who both appeared nervous,” she added.
Milliken put his hand in his trouser pocket, and was told he was being searched.
A wrap of brown powder was found in his jeans.
“He was entirely co-operative, saying it was heroin, and he planned on smoking it,” concluded Ms Bradley.
Defence solicitor Ed Hulme said his client had purchased a personal amount for his own use. “He says it was a lapse of judgement,” he added.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Milliken to a Community Payback Order with 70 hours of unpaid work to be completed within six months.
A Galashiels teenager appeared from custody on an assault charge.
Lace Farrell, 16, of Laurel Grove, is alleged to have punched a woman in the face to her injury in High Street, Galashiels, on August 3.
She pleaded not guilty and was released on bail pending trial on January 6, with an intermediate hearing on December 8.
KELSO PAIR DENY HAMMER ATTACK
Two Kelso men face a charge of striking another male on the head and body with a hammer.
Kevin Henderson, 33, of Orchard Park, and Rhys McGregor, 20, of Eschie Court, deny the assault, which is said to have happened on April 10. McGregor is also charged with breaching a court order by being in Orchard Park.
The trial will go ahead later this month.
BREAK-IN IS DENIED
Two Hawick men have been accused of breaking into a guest house and stealing.
John Szabo, 52, of Rosevale Street, and Roy Storey, 39, of no fixed abode, deny the offence which is said to have happened between November 2012 and April 2013. They are alleged to have stolen furniture, ornaments, clothing, fairground wooden bikes and a music system from Hizzys Guest House in North Bridge Street, Hawick.
An intermediate hearing was continued until August 29.
SEPTEMBER TRIAL DATE
A Kelso man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting another by repeatedly punching him on the head to his injury.
Marcin Szostak, 30, of Inchmyre, is alleged to have carried out the attack in Maxwell Park, Kelso, on August 25 last year. The trial is scheduled for September 4.
INTERMEDIATE HEARING
David Adamson, 26, will stand trial in December on two charges.
He is said to have assaulted a man on April 4 and thrown a stone at a house in Grieve Avenue, Jedburgh, causing damage.
Adamson – from Stenhouse Road in Edinburgh, but in custody on another matter – will next appear in court on November 21 for an intermediate hearing.
PLEADED NOT GUILTY
Michael Dodds faces trial later this month on a charge of breaching bail conditions by approaching a man in the Deanbrae area of Hawick he was banned by a court order from communicating with.
The 33-year-old, of Howegate, Hawick, has pleaded not guilty.
DTTO ASSESSMENT
A Hawick woman who had heroin in her possession will undergo a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO) assessment.
Deborah Higgins, 41, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at her home in Tower Knowe on October 25.
The case will recall on September 5.
SENTENCE DEFERRED
A Hawick accused will stand trial on a charge of uttering threats of sexual violence towards two women.
The offence is said to have happened near his home in Ramsay Road, Hawick, on January 19.
Remo Nardini, 55, pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully and recklessly damaging a catflap in the same street on January 23 and sentence was deferred until the outcome of his trial on September 4.
MAN DENIES DRINK-DRIVING
Joshua Norman will stand trial in December.
The 22-year-old, of Roxburghe Drive, Hawick, pleaded not guilty to driving on an unclassified road near Burnfoot Road in the town on February 9 with a breath/alcohol count of 66 micogrammes. The legal limit is 35.
An intermediate hearing will be held on November 14.
HAWICK MILL INTRUDER
A Hawick man was found in a mill in circumstances that inferred he intended to commit theft.
Christopher Scott, 31, of Orchard Terrace, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at Johnston’s of Elgin, Hawick, on March 17.
Graham Fraser, prosecuting, described how a witness was locking his premises at 10pm and saw a man wearing a camouflage jacket and carrying a dark-coloured rucksack trying to get into the mill.
A mill worker came across Scott in the workshop area carrying a cashmere garment and trying to get out an emergency fire door.
Mr Fraser said: “His speech was slurred and eyes glazed – he was clearly under the influence of something.”
Rory Bannerman, defending, said: “He does not remember much about the occasion, but when confronted about it he admitted he must have done it.”
Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Scott: “It is clear from the social enquiry report and your previous convictions that drugs has played a substantial part in your life so far.”
He imposed a nine-month community payback order involving 110 hours of unpaid work.
CASE IS CONTINUED
A pensioner has pleaded not guilty to a charge of drinking and driving.
John McKenzie, 66, is accused of having a breath/alcohol count of 79 microgrammes – the legal limit being 35 – near his Boonraw Road home in Hawick on March 28.
The case was continued until August 29.
JED ACCUSED TO STAND TRIAL
Grant Armstrong, 25, of Lothian Road in Jedburgh, will stand trial on September 4 on a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour, pushing a woman on the body and making abusive remarks.
The offence is said to have happened at Howdenburn Court, Jedburgh, on April 25.
BREACHED BAIL CONDITIONS
Breaching his bail conditions by being found in the Jedburgh home of his partner he has was banned from seeing resulted in Steven Peacock being given a supervised attendance order.
The 22-year-old, c/o Bongate View, Jedburgh, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened on June 24.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: “The police were looking for him and one of the places they looked was the address of his partner where he should not have been – and that is where they found him.”
Defence lawyer Ross Dow said: “It can only be described as a blatant breach. He lost his bail tenancy and his partner offered to put him up. They both knew he ought not to have been there.”
Sheriff Kevin Drummond said the 45-hour order – described as a fine on his time – should be completed within six months.
CASE IS DESERTED
A man charged with assault to severe injury has had the case against him deserted.
Alexander MacLeod, 59, was charged with repeatedly punching Robert Williams, grabbing him by the clothing, repeatedly striking his head on a metal bar, all to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.
The offence was alleged to have been committed near his home in Hillend Drive, Hawick, on June 14 last year.
PASSPORT MUST BE SURRENDERED
A 55-year-old man living in Australia has been ordered to surrender his passport until he stands trial for alleged drugs offences.
Neil MacDonald pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine at a property in Longcroft Crescent, Hawick, on July 5 and also having the class A drug at Borders General Hospital.
MacDonald, from Randwick, has had his trial date at Jedburgh Sheriff Court accelerated to October 2, with an intermediate hearing on September 5.
CASE IS DESERTED
A 73-year-old Hawick man who denied pouring boiling water over a woman has had the case against him deserted.
Alexander Morgan, c/o Howegate, had pleaded not guilty to assaulting the woman at a house at Tower Knowe, Hawick, on October 24, seizing her by the hair, dragging her into the kitchen and pouring boiling water on her body, to her injury.
He had also denied assaulting the same woman the following day by repeatedly cutting her on the body with a knife to her injury.
CLEARED OF ASSAULT
A Hawick man was found not guilty of assaulting his former fiancee.
Paul Robson, 30, had denied seizing the woman by the wrists and forcibly removing a ring from her finger before throwing her across a bedroom floor at their home in Weensland Road, Hawick, after a night out to celebrate their son’s first birthdayin March 2013.