A DOMESTIC row with his ex-partner, witnessed by police officers, resulted in a £400 fine for Johnny Donaldson.
The 23-year-old, of Leishman Place in Hawick, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in the town’s Burnfoot Road on July 20.
Kate McGarvey, prosecuting, said officers saw the accused at 1.15am shouting and swearing, and arguing with his former partner.
She added: “They stopped, but he continued to shout and swear, and came out with the usual expletives while the officers were speaking to him. He was detained, cautioned and charged.”
Defending, Rory Bannerman said: “It was unwarranted and uncalled for. He rose to the bait of the argument.”
BRANDISHED SCREWDRIVER
POLICE officers in their Jedburgh station heard a commotion outside at 2am and found Euan Williamson brandishing a screwdriver and challenging a group of youths to fight.
The 19-year-old, of Priors Road, Jedburgh, was heard to threaten to stab one of them until he saw the officers and dropped the offensive weapon. It was later recovered in Blackhills Close.
Williamson’s lawyer said the five-inch long screwdriver had been in a friend’s house where the accused had been fixing a door,
Williamson pleaded guilty to charges of posession of an offensive weapon and a breach of the peace by shouting and swearing, and making threats on June 17 last year.
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre ordered Williamson to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community over a three-month period and added: “If you don’t do it you will be in trouble.”
OFFICER FORCED TO BRAKE
A MOTOR mechanic overtook a vehicle on a bend, forcing a police car travelling in the opposite direction to brake sharply to avoid a collision.
Ryan Hair, of Wilton Glebe, Hawick, pleaded guilty to careless driving on the A7 to Selkirk.
Prosecutor Kate McGarvey told Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday that the 19-year-old had been convicted of dangerous driving the previous week on a separate matter and was currently banned until next year.
Regarding the offence on March 27, she explained: “It was 10 to nine at night and police officers were travelling south in a police car. They were met by the accused travelling northwards towards them and on the wrong side of the road.
“He had been overtaking a car and then pulled back. The police sergeant had to brake sharply to avoid a collision.”
Hair’s solicitor, Rory Bannerman, said his client had been given a written warning by his employer over his driving record.
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre commented that Hair had been overtaking on a bend and “unfortunately for him a police car was coming the other way”.
He said the offence was “at the top end of careless driving”.
Noting Hair was already disqualified, he ordered that seven penalty points be put on his licence and imposed a fine of £225.
BENEFITS FRAUD
A KELSO man who admitted claiming £2,500 in benefits he was not entitled to has been ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community.
Brian Humphreys, 50, of The Linn, admitted receiving £725.17 in Jobseeker’s Allowance between October 2011 and January 2012 while employed by the JMK Group. He also claimed housing and council tax benefit to the tune of £1,778.45 between March 2010 and August 2012.
Defending, Ross Dow said his client was well regarded in the community and the offence was out of character. He added the crime was caused due to Humphreys’ sporadic nature of work and had not informed benefits officials of his change in circumstances.
MUST CARRY OUT UNPAID WORK
A HAWICK man who admitted being in possession of £635 worth of cannabis with intent to supply has been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Mark Cummings, 27, had been of good behaviour during a period of deferred sentence since committing the offence at his Alemoor Court home on December 31, 2011.
TEENAGER ON DOG CHARGE
A HAWICK teenager appeared in private accused of allowing her dog to cause permanent impairment to a four-year-old child.
Karissa Johnstone, 19, is charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act in that the animal was out of control in a public place.
She made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination. Johnstone was granted bail pending her next court appearance on a date yet to be confirmed.
EIGHT MONTHS FOR JED MAN
A JEDBURGH man involved in two disturbances has been jailed for a total of eight months.
George Anderson was given four months for behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, shouting and swearing and spray-painting a door near his Bountrees home on April 19. The 44-year-old received a similar sentence for committing a breach of the peace in Kelso Square on June 13 by repeatedly shouting and swearing and urinating in public.
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre told Anderson that two months of the jail term were attributed to being on bail at the time of the offences.
WOMAN FINED £150
A JEDBURGH accused was fined £150 after inflicting a head injury on another woman at a Halloween party.
Janette Clarke, 35, was having a cigarette outside a pub and comforting a female who was being sick when a confrontation began with another woman.
She admitted seizing her by the body and pushing her against a wall, causing her to strike her head to her injury.
The court was told that the wound was treated with staples and the victim made a complaint to police two days later.
After being told first offender Clarke, of Lothian Road, had been of good behaviour during a period of deferred sentence, Sheriff Derrick McIntyre imposed a fine of £150.
The offence happened in High Street, Jedburgh, on October 26, 2012.
BEHAVED HIMSELF
JAMIE Wilkinson, of Thistle Street, Galashiels, was admonished after being of good behaviour during a four-month period of deferred sentence.
He previously admitting a heroin possession charge on November 15, 2012.
£2,600 FIDDLE
A GALASHIELS woman who claimed more than £2,600 in benefits to which she was not entitled has been ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work in the community.
Fiona Connolly, 45, of Lintburn Street, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened between December 2011 and May 2012.
The court was told that she had gained employment at the Clovenfords Hotel – bu still claimed £1,518.29 in Jobseeker’s Allowance, £847.64 in housing benefit and £251.57 in council tax benefit.
DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE
A HAWICK man faces a dangerous driving trial on September 24.
Andrew McFarlane, of Crumhaugh Road, is accused of repeatedly swerving on the road and repeatedly braking sharply, forcing the following vehicle to stop on the A7 near Selkirk on March 10. He is also charged with seizing a man by the neck.