A 16-year-old threatened to rape a man’s dead mother via a social networking site.
Jamie Mitchell, of Albert Place, Galashiels, admitted sending grossly offensive messages to a man and repeatedly making threats of sexual violence involving his family on July 30. One of the messages Mitchell posted on Facebook read: “I’m going to rape your dead mum and smash her gravestone.”
Just 11 days’ earlier, a drunken Mitchell spoke to a police officer – “He called the constable a bald c**t and said he had raped his wife last night,” explained prosecutor Tessa Bradley.
The teenager admitted repeatedly shouting and swearing and uttering threats of violence at Currie Road, Galashiels, on July 19. He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a doctor at Borders General Hospital on the same date.
Ms Bradley told how police were concerned for Mitchell’s welfare after seeing him bleeding from a head wound. He was walking with his girlfriend, with blood running down his face, and officers stopped to speak to him.
The prosecutor explained: “They thought he was under the influence of alcohol, as he was unsteady on his feet, and he immediately began shouting obscenities at them.
“The police tried to get him to calm down, telling him he wasn’t in any trouble, but he had a cut to his head and was intoxicated, so they were concerned for his wellbeing.”
Mitchell told the police officer to “f**k off”, adding he would kill him when he said he was calling an ambulance.
Mitchell’s girlfriend said he had sustained the injury after stumbling. He was eventually arrested and taken to hospital.
“His behaviour didn’t improve and he was banging his head on the cage door, telling a police officer that his uncle would find him and kill him,” said Ms Bradley.
Rather than take him into the hospital, it was decided a doctor should examine him in the police vehicle, but Mitchell repeatedly told the doctor to “f**k off” and then kicked him on the shin.
When he had calmed down and eventually examined, the accused was found to have superficial injuries.
Defending, Ed Hulme urged Sheriff Kevin Drummond to seek the advice of the Children’s Panel, adding: “There are issues to be addressed.”
The sheriff told Mitchell: “Being on bail doesn’t seem to make a lot of difference to you.
“I am obliged, by law, to obtain the advice of the Children’s Hearing, but I am not bound by it.”
Sentence was deferred until September 23.
DISABILITY CASH FIDDLE
A car-crash victim who continued to claim disability allowance after an operation significantly improved her mobility was sentenced to a 12-month community payback order with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Belinda McMillan is currently repaying the £5,694.85 allowance she falsely claimed.
McMillan, 51, of Hopehill Road, Glasgow, admitted obtaining disability living allowance to which she was not entitled between January 5, 2011, and February 5, 2013.
Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how McMillan was claiming the “highest level disability living allowance”, including a mobility car.
“A report was made via the benefit fraud hotline that she was working at Asda and that an improvement in her physical condition had not been reported,” said Ms Bradley.
Bruce Bett, defending, said his client was injured in a road accident in 1996 and required two operations. “She had one in 2007 and another in 2011, which significantly improved her mobility,” he explained.
DANGEROUS DRIVER
A teenager has been found guilty of dangerous driving.
Nineteen-year-old Ryan Hair denied committing the offence on the B711 Roberton-Hawick road near Highchesters on August 4 last year, but was found guilty after trial of an amended charge.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard on Friday how Hair drove at excessive speed with regard to the road conditions, and overtook another vehicle when it was unsafe. He crossed into the opposite side of the road, forcing an oncoming vehicle to take evasive action, and the driver lost control and his vehicle overturned.
Hair, of Glebefoot Cottages, Roberton, was fined £540 and banned from driving for a year. He was also ordered to resit an extended driving test.
DRUNKEN CAR VANDAL
A drunken 16-year-old caused £1,000 worth of damage to a car parked in Galashiels.
Jonathon Barnes, now aged 17, of Primrose Bank, Galashiels, admitted recklessly damaging a car at Talisman Avenue on August 20 last year. He also pleaded guilty to causing £200 worth of damage to a house window at Tweed Road, Galashiels, on the same date.
Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, said Barnes was part of a group of six youths involved in “hooliganism”.
Barnes told police he was “wound up” and punched the vehicle, adding that he had “picked up a stone and went for a random chuck” when he smashed the house window.
Sentence was deferred until September 23 for reports.
JURY TRIAL FOR HAWICK MAN
A Hawick rugby player is due to stand trial by jury on September 9 after he denied assaulting another man to the danger of his life.
Twenty-two-year-old Greg Anderson, of Heronhill Bank, who was part of the Greens team which won its sevens tournament earlier this year, appeared on indictment and denied assaulting a man at Market Place, Galashiels, on November 30 by punching him on the head, causing him to fall to the ground to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life.
He also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by contacting two witnesses to provide police with false evidence.
A further first hearing was set for August 27.
ASSAULT ALLEGATION
A Galashiels man accused of assaulting another to his severe injury will stand trial by jury on September 9.
Sean Boswell, 20, of Balmoral Avenue, denies seizing hold of a man by his clothing, punching him on the head, causing him to fall against a window and then to the ground, and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body to his severe injury at Green Street, Galashiels, on November 10.
COMMUNITY PAYBACK ORDER
A repeat offender has been sentenced to a 12-month community payback order with 60 hours of unpaid work.
Zoe Forsyth, 23, of Duke Street, Galashiels, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a bail curfew at Union Street, Galashiels, on June 19 last year.
Forsyth also admitted possession of cannabis resin at Duke Street on March 27 this year.