A confrontational remark to the sheriff who remanded him saw Scott Morrison jailed for three months.
As he was led to the cells at Duns Sheriff Court last Wednesday, Morrison directed his frustration at Sheriff Derrick McIntyre, calling him a “w***er”.
Explained defence solicitor Ross Dow: “He agrees there was contempt, and is candid about it and sorry for what he has done.”
At Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, Sheriff Kevin Drummond found 26-year-old Morrison, of the town’s Bannerfield Drive, in contempt of court.
Imposing a three-month prison sentence, Sheriff Drummond told the accused: “Proceedings in court can be emotionally charged as people face losing their liberty and from time to time express an opinion on the outcome.
“But any deliberate flouting of the authority of the court has to be dealt with. I am satisfied the remark was deliberate, confrontational and personally insulting.
“You have eventually apologised for that and had you not done so the sentence would have been double.”
TOOLED UP FOR THEFT
A man caught trying to break into two Hawick flats during the early hours of the morning was jailed for 80 days.
Christopher Scott had spanners, bolt cutters, and a Stanley knife at Stonefield Place on May 21.
The 30-year-old, of Orchard Terrace, Hawick, admitted committing two attempted break-ins with intent to steal.
Prosecutor Graham Fraser told how a resident was wakened by the sound of banging and kicking around 4am, and heard footsteps outside the flat. A neighbour heard similar noises and saw the accused outside.
Mr Fraser went on: “He was in possession of spanners, bolt cutters, a Stanley knife and various other items. He said his reason for being there was for the theft of metal, adding that he was sorry, regretted it and said it was not something he would normally do.”
Iain Burke, defending, said: “I don’t put forward his drug use as an excuse, but he was under the influence of drugs, which may have influenced his behaviour.
“He went prepared, although there was no forethought over what he was going to do after.”
NEWTOWN DRUGS FACTORY
Police found a cannabis cultivation with a potential value of £1,000 at a house in Newtown St Boswells after being told about it by the culprit himself.
Officers were speaking to John Mercer about an unrelated matter when he volunteered the information.
“He openly and voluntarily told the officers that there was a cannabis cultivation in the rear room of the property,” explained prosecutor Graham Fraser.
Police found seven fully-grown cannabis plants and eight seedlings, along with related equipment, including radiators, transformers, lights and timers.
“He accepted some involvement, but put the blame for the cultivation on others,” added Mr Fraser, who valued each plant at about £150.
Mercer, 46, of The Hawthorns, Newtown St Boswells, admitted, while acting with others, producing cannabis at his home on February 10. He was fined £300.
His lawyer, Iain Burke, said his client’s position was clear to police from the outset.
“He said his wife suffers from a number of health problems and smoked cannabis to alleviate the symptoms. She had grown them in the house, with his full knowledge, so he has to accept some responsibility,” added Mr Burke.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Mercer, a self-employed joiner: “These are quite exceptional circumstances, beginning from the fact that it was you who drew the attention of the police to the existence of the cultivation.”
TESCO BAN FOR TEENAGER
A drunken teenager who assaulted a man in Tesco’s Galashiels car park has been banned from the store for 12 months.
Seventeen-year-old Daniel Bolton was also sentenced to a 12-month community payback order, with a condition he undertakes alcohol counselling and completes 64 hours of unpaid work.
“You will be excluded from Tesco and its car park for the duration of the order,” added Sheriff Kevin Drummond.
Bolton, of Weensland Road, Hawick, pleaded guilty to, while acting with another, assaulting a man by pushing him on the body and punching him on the head to his injury at the Paton Street car park on October 26 last year.
The accused also had sentence deferred for 12 months on a further complaint after he admitted threatening or abusive behaviour at Gala Park Court, Galashiels, on October 13.
RAPE-THREAT TO PC’S FAMILY
A drunken man who threatened to rape a police constable’s mother and daughter was ordered to pay the officer £500 compensation at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Friday.
When the policeman arrested Sean Lamont, he launched into a tirade of abuse, including a homophobic comment.
Lamont, 39, said he would trace the officer’s family and find out where he lived.
The accused, who then lived at South Hermitage Street, Newcastleton, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in a police vehicle travelling between Newcastleton and Hawick on October 14 last year.
Prosecutor Kate McGarvey said police detained Lamont at about 4.30pm and put him into the police vehicle.
“He began a tirade of abuse towards the police constable, uttering a number of obscenities,” said the prosecutor, adding: “He said he would infect him with Hepatitis C, threatening to spit at him. He threatened he was going to trace his family and find his home, and that he would rape his mother and daughter when released.”
A spit mask was put on Lamont when he arrived at the police station where he then said: “I’m sorry, sincerely sorry.”
Ross Gardiner, defending, said Lamont had been out of trouble for some six years, but conceded his client had been “pretty feral in the van”.
“He doesn’t dispute that these things were said, although he can’t justify why. He was handcuffed, so no real threat to the officers, although he believed that the handcuffs were on too tight,” he added.
Ex-heroin addict Lamont was said to have been drunk at the time.
“He said some pretty nasty things, but has been in custody for eight days,” concluded Mr Gardiner.
As well as the compensation order, Sheriff Derrick McIntyre imposed a community payback order with 80 hours of unpaid work.
PRISON FOR ASBO OFFENDER
A WOMAN who breached an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) by staggering about in the road, shouting and swearing, was jailed for four months.
Elizabeth McLean, 32, of Blair Avenue, Jedburgh, admitted behaving in a drunken and disorderly manner at Blair Avenue and Honeyfield Drive, Jedburgh, on June 4 while on an ASBO prohibiting such behaviour.
Defending, Ross Dow urged Sheriff Derrick McIntyre to impose a non-custodial sentence.
“I have dealt with her for about 13 years and never seen her so anxious about imprisonment. She has significantly changed her ways over the last two years and made significant progress,” added the lawyer.
Mr Dow described the offence as an isolated incident, adding: “She was apparently robbed the night before, and is vulnerable and an easy target for others. She felt low and took drink, and it a real source of regret to her that this happened.”
The sheriff said McLean had 11 pages of previous convictions and would “have to go back to jail”. The prison term was backdated to June 5.
OBSTRUCTED BGH NURSES
A man obstructed two nurses and threw chairs in Borders General Hospital.
Adam Blyth, 22, of Orchard Park, Kelso, appeared from custody and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Rosewood Gardens in the town on Sunday. He also admitted obstructing two nurses and shouting and swearing in the hospital on the same date.
Sentence was deferred until July 5 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with Blyth released on bail.
Purse theft allegation
A Selkirk man who denied stealing a purse and contents from a dental practice has been remanded in custody for trial.
Christopher Griffin, 28, of Raeburn Meadow, appeared from custody facing an allegation of theft from the West Port practice last Wednesday while on three bail orders.
He will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on July 9, with an intermediate hearing on June 24. Bail was refused by Sheriff Derrick McIntyre.
RESET BREAK-IN PROCEEDS
A Hawick man who reset stolen property was jailed for 12 months.
Kevin Laidlaw, 26, of Minto Place, appeared on indictment and pleaded guilty to resetting property stolen from a break-in at a house in Melrose between May 25-28 last year.