A wedding guest who intimidated his former partner at a reception in Peebles was branded a bully.
David Stanton, 28, of Kingsland Square, Peebles, admitted threatening or abusive behaviour, shouting and swearing and acting in an intimidating manner towards his ex-partner at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club last weekend.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond, at Selkirk on Monday, told Stanton: “You are a bully.”
Deferring sentence for 12 months, with a condition not to contact his ex-partner, Sheriff Drummond warned the accused: “I promise that if you are involved in any further aggressive behaviour towards this lady, you will be going to jail.”
Prosecutor Catherine Hart said Stanton had been in an eight-year relationship with the woman, which ended in February last year. “He wishes to renew the relationship, but that is not reciprocated,” explained Ms Hart.
She said Stanton and the woman had attended separately at his cousin’s wedding reception and she had been at the bar when the accused approached and offered to buy her a drink.
The prosecutor continued: “She refused, saying she wanted nothing to do with him. She returned to a table with other wedding guests, but he followed and sat directly in front of her, and asked her why she wasn’t speaking to him.”
When the woman said she didn’t want to speak to him, Stanton replied: “You will speak to me.”
Ms Hart added: “She was so intimidated by his behaviour that she was unable to participate in the rest of the celebrations. She told police she was petrified of him and fearful of retribution.”
Defending, Mat Patrick said his client had lived with the woman for much of their eight-year relationship.
The lawyer added: “He had an accident and was in a coma, and she went to visit him in hospital. On his release some six weeks ago, he went to stay with her and she nursed him.
“The relationship at that time was fine, but they fell out after and coincidentally met up at his cousin’s wedding.
“He tried to engage her in conversation, but she left him in no doubt she didn’t want to speak to him. He shouted at her and upset her.”
Mr Patrick concluded: “He acknowledges that the relationship is unlikely to resume, but hopes they can be on good terms.”
Driver’s couple of joints
A DRIVER stopped for petrol at a garage and asked for tape to repair damage to his car which had been caused by a deer.
As Andrew Clamp paid for his fuel, it was noted his hands were shaking and he was slurring his words.
Clamp, 20, of Weensland Road, Hawick, pleaded guilty to driving a car when unfit through drink or drugs at the Edinburgh Road garage in Jedburgh and on the A68 on March 21. He also admitted driving without insurance and without a full licence.
Prosecutor Catherine Hart said Clamp called at the garage about 1am. A witness who was working there noticed the vehicle jumping forward and that the back of the car was extensively damaged.
She added: “When he went to the hatch to pay, she found him slurring his words and his hands were shaking. He said that the car had been struck by a deer and asked for tape to hold it together, and then tried to repair the extensive damage.
“He drove off on to the A68, with the vehicle jerking forward repeatedly.”
Ms Hart said police stopped the car about 20 minutes later.
She added: “It was immediately apparent he was under the influence of drink or drugs, and he provided a specimen, but no alcohol was detected. In the police vehicle he said he had had a couple of joints and at the charge bar said he had had diazepam.”
Sentence was deferred until May 13 for reports and Clamp was banned from driving meantime. A Crown application was made for a CRASBO (criminal antisocial behaviour order) to be considered.