A drug addict who broke into a Jedburgh beauty salon was jailed for eight months at the town’s sheriff court last Friday.
Steven Frater was found crouching behind the cash register at Body Beautiful Health and Beauty Clinique in Canongate.
The 35-year-old, of Blair Avenue, Jedburgh, appeared from custody and admitted breaking into the shop last Thursday with intent to steal.
Depute procurator fiscal Kate McGarvey said: “Someone nearby could hear loud banging and contacted police.
“There was no alarm sounding, but a large industrial bin had been positioned near the glass shop front. It was concealing a round hole in a glass panel and there were traces of blood.”
Police searched the area, then shone their torches inside the building.
“They saw the top of his head, as he was crouched behind the cash register, and he climbed back through the glass and was apprehended,” said Ms McGarvey, adding: “He was wearing black gloves and said that the grazes on his arms had happened days ago.”
Nothing was taken from the shop.
Rory Bannerman, defending, said his client was “now realising he is too old for this kind of carry on”.
The lawyer conceded Frater had a serious record, but added that he was taking steps to address his drug problem. Mr Bannerman said Frater was booked into a two-week rehabilitation clinic the following week and would lose his place if jailed.
“He is close to getting off the horrendous cycle he has been in for years,” added Mr Bannerman.
He said Frater had been locked out of his home and had nowhere to go, adding: “He went into the shop and fell asleep.”
GAMEKEEPER SHOT OFF ROAD
A teenage driver sped along a farm road before losing control of his vehicle which struck a tree.
David Lindsay escaped with bruising, while his passenger required surgery for a broken femur.
The 19-year-old trainee gamekeeper, of Crofts Road, Lauder, admitted driving carelessly on the unclassified road between Longcroft Farm and the A697, near Lauder, on November 10.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said that while the route had a 60mph speed limit, it was a single-track road with passing places. “The reporting officer considered there was no part of the road where you could drive at that speed safely,” she explained.
Lindsay had finished working at a shoot at the farm, and left with a friend around 4pm.
He was seen driving out of the farmyard “at some speed” and as he tried to brake approaching a bend and cattle grid, he lost control of the car which slid off the road and struck a tree before rolling down a grass bank.
A loud bang was heard by others, along with Lindsay’s cries for help, and an ambulance called. The car was lying upside down and a defective tyre was noticed.
Both men were taken to Borders General Hospital.
Defence solicitor Iain Burke described the offence as “a foolish act of misplaced bravado”, adding: “He can’t explain why he lost control of the car, although I suspect speed was a significant factor, and the bald tyre may have contributed in some way.”
He described Lindsay as “a responsible, hardworking young man, who made a mistake”.
The lawyer urged Sheriff Jamie Gilmour not to disqualify his client from driving, explaining: “His driving licence is essential for his job, as there is no public transport. If he loses his licence, he loses his job.”
The sheriff fined Lindsay £440 and endorsed his licence with five penalty points.
CCTV CAUGHT BLADE OFFENDER
A sUPERMArket shopper was seen on CCTV taking out a Stanley blade to cut plastic packaging.
Clothing manufacturing company owner Richard Kirk had gone to Tesco’s Galashiels store and was spotted using the blade in the electrical department.
The 52-year-old, of Kilknowe Caravan Park, Galashiels, admitted having the blade at the Paton Street premises on April 29. He was fined £100.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley said staff monitoring the store’s CCTV noticed the accused.
“He was looking at cables, and produced a Stanley blade from his jacket which he then used to cut the plastic packaging,” she added.
Police spoke to Kirk in the Tesco car park where he was carrying the blade in the palm of his hand.
“He said that he was browsing, looking for electrical fittings, and was trying to look inside the package,” added Ms Bradley.
Defending, Robert More explained: “It was solely a blade, which he had been using at home to cut cabling.
Kirk was fined a further £120 after he admitted possession of cannabis resin.
Police found 11.5gm of the illegal drug, worth £65, in his vehicle.
ASSAULTED DOCTOR
A Galashiels teenager who assaulted a doctor had sentence deferred until August 19 for reports.
Jamie Mitchell, 18, of Albert Place, appeared from custody and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Currie Road, Galashiels, on Friday. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a doctor in the accident and emergency department of Borders General Hospital by kicking him on the body.
Mitchell was bailed.
SENTENCE DEFERRED
A drunken man shouted and swore at his pregnant partner, slamming doors in their flat.
Curtis Watters, 20, of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at his home on March 3.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how a neighbour was woken by Watters shouting and swearing around 7am. Police attended and Watters was detained, but continued being verbally aggressive, shouting obscenities in the back of the police van.”
His lawyer, Iain Burke, said there had been an argument between Watters and his partner, who was 22 weeks pregnant at the time.
“It arose through financial pressure, the birth of their first child and the general stress of family life,” he explained.
Mr Burke said Curtis was now supporting his partner and child, and was part of “a settled family unit”, adding: “This was a one-off incident” he added.
Sentence was deferred for six months for Watters to be of good behaviour.
DENIED RACIST COMMENTS
A Hawick woman charged with making racist comments will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on November 21.
Tracy Mullin, 35, of Queens Drive, Hawick, appeared from custody and denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, making racist comments, singing and clapping in an abusive manner at Queens Drive last Thursday. She also denied failing to comply with a bail condition by waving at two people and speaking to them
Mullin was released on bail, with an intermediate hearing set for October 25.
SHERIFF’S WARNING
A WOMAN who breached a court order was warned that any repetition would result in jail.
Christine Tweedie, 48, of Maxton Court, Hawick, appeared from custody and admitted failing to comply with a condition not to approach or contact Colin Gill, when travelling in a vehicle with him last Thursday at Weensland Road, Hawick.
Sentence was deferred until August 9 for reports and Tweedie released on bail.
“If you are caught again, you will be locked up,” warned Sheriff Derrick McIntyre.
RELEASED ON BAIL
A 20-year-old denied shouting and swearing at a woman last Friday.
Christopher Hair, of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, denied behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Beech Avenue.
He was released on bail for trial on November 13, with an intermediate hearing on October 16.