When police stopped Alexander Woodhead on the A1 near Lamberton, he pulled out his wallet and a bag of white powder fell on the ground.
The 33-year-old, of Mercers Court, Kelso, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine on November 11.
Prosecutor Graham Fraser told Sheriff John Halley: “Police were carrying out routine road checks and stopped the accused at about 11pm. It was clear he was agitated and nervous, and, as he pulled his wallet from his jacket, a small bag containing white powder fell to the ground. Another small bag was also found.”
The 4.1gms of cocaine found was valued at between £60 and £140.
Defending, Mat Patrick said his client had bought the cocaine some time before, adding: “He used to have a problem with this drug, but sought counselling, and this was a relapse.”
The sheriff fined Woodhead £200, telling him: “You frankly admitted your guilt at the first opportunity and are to be commended for your candour.”
TEENAGER IS LOCKED UP
A drunken teenager protested to police that he had “committed no crime” – oblivious to the fact he was breaching an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order).
Nineteen-year-old Gregory Cranston, of Glenfield Road East, Galashiels, appeared from custody and admitted breaching an ASBO by behaving in a drunken and disorderly manner at Galashiels police station on Saturday.
Depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley told Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday that the majority of Cranston’s offending was alcohol-related, adding: “Various efforts have been made to provide structure and combat his behaviour.”
A police officer heard shouting and swearing outside the police station and found Cranston and another male outside at 2.40am.
The prosecutor went on: “The police constable went to the front door and Cranston tried to force his way inside. He could see the accused was highly intoxicated, staggering about and clutching a bottle of cider.”
Other officers came to assist and the other man left when told to go home, but Cranston continued to shout and swear and became more agitated until he was arrested.
“He was taken to Borders General Hospital, on account of his state of intoxication, but deemed fit for police custody,” continued Ms Bradley.
The following afternoon, Cranston told police: “I’m sorry. I was hyper. I panicked.”
Heather Stewart, defending, said: “He was walking past the police station, arguing with a friend.
“The argument became more heated and he went to the police station to tell them he hadn’t committed any crime, and kept repeating that.
“The irony is that he was breaching his ASBO while he was saying that,” added Ms Stewart.
She said Cranston, who hoped to gain employment on the new railway line, wished to apologise for his behaviour.
Sheriff Derrick McIntyre deferred sentence until March 3, but refused bail, remanding the teenager in custody for reports.
STOLE £8,000 FROM HIS DAD
A son who stole approximately £8,000 from his father had sentence deferred until February 2 next year to continue with repayment.
William Reid, 49, of Gala Drive, Dalbeattie, admitted using his father’s debit card on about 30 occasions between May 2011 and April 2012 at ATMs in Galashiels and Dumfries to steal the cash.
The court heard the accused was currently making regular £50 repayments to his father.
“He says the relationship between him and his father has improved, and he has made significant steps,” said Reid’s solicitor.
DNA TRAPPED OFFENDER
A HAWICK driver was traced through DNA found in the car.
Brian Aitken, 42, of Croft Road, admitted taking and driving away a vehicle without the owner’s consent at Hassendean Court, also Hawick, on July 1, 2012.
“The vehicle was left in Hassendean Court, and subsequently driven away and was involved in a crash,” said prosecutor Graham Fraser, adding: “The accused made no comment in the course of a police interview. DNA was taken from the car interior which confirmed he was the driver.”
Sentence was deferred until March 7 for Aitken, who pled guilty by letter, to appear personally.
STRUGGLED WITH POLICE
Upset at being arrested, a drunken man struggled violently with police officers.
William Devlin had to be taken to the ground and re-handcuffed as he kicked out and head-butted the floor.
Devlin, 22, of Maxmill Park, Kelso, admitted struggling violently with police at Hawick police station on July 31.
Graham Fraser, prosecuting, told how officers were called to an incident in the centre of Hawick.
Devlin, who was very drunk, was warned about his behaviour and told to go home. But when officers returned to another incident, he was still there and arrested.
He was taken to the police station where he began to struggle with the officers.
Mr Fraser said: “He had to be taken to the ground and re-handcuffed. He kicked out and head-butted the floor, and it took three officers to subdue him.”
Rory Bannerman, defending, described his client as “reasonable and sensible without alcohol”. The lawyer added: “Alcohol tends to get him into trouble. He really didn’t think he should have been taken to the police station in the first place.”
Sentence was deferred for four months.
‘I HOPE YOU CRASH’
A husband sent his wife abusive text messages, including one hoping she crashed while on a car journey.
Michael Clark, 29, of McLaren Court, Hawick, admitted sending the texts on December 13 and 14.
Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said the couple had been in a relationship for 11 years, marrying in 2010, but they broke up last year, adding: “The break-up did not go well.”
Mr Fraser said Clark sent his wife 24 abusive and distasteful texts, calling her names. He also sent one saying: “Hope you crash”.
Defence solicitor Ross Dow said Clark realised the error of his ways.
Mr Dow added: “He and his wife broke up and he struggled to come to terms with it, and this was the consequence.”
A previously-ordered report was not available, so sentence was further deferred until March 14.
EXPOSURE ALLEGATION
Two Galashiels men accused of exposing their buttocks to others will stand trial on March 18.
A further intermediate hearing was set for March 3 after Jordan Wood and James Johnstone, both aged 24, maintained their not-guilty pleas.
Wood, of Tweed Crescent, and Johnstone, of Kirk Brae, deny shouting, swearing, gesticulating in an offensive and sexual manner, and exposing their buttocks at Galapark Court, Galashiels, on February 23 last year.
SENTENCE DEFERRED
A 65-year-old Galashiels man who breached bail by contacting his fiancee had sentence further deferred until March 3 for reports.
William Morrison, who lives at Galapark Gardens, appeared on indictment and admitted contacting his partner at Fairbairn Court, Greenlaw, on November 15 last year.
DENIES PUNCH ON WOMAN
A 21-year-old charged with assaulting a woman in Galashiels and struggling violently with police will stand trial on May 27, with an intermediate hearing on April 28.
Andrew Clamp, of Priorsdene Road, Melrose, pleaded not guilty to punching a woman on the head to her injury at Melrose Road, Galashiels, on January 18. He also denies struggling violently with two police officers at Langlee Drive, also Galashiels, on the same date.
Clamp was released on bail with a 9pm- 7am curfew.
SEX ASSAULT TRIAL DATE
A 71-year-old Peebles man who denies threatening or abusive behaviour at Borders General Hospital and sexually assaulting a female employee will stand trial on May 27.
Paul Cranston, of Old Town, is alleged to have shouted, swore and acted in an aggressive manner on January 5. He also pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a member of staff by seizing her by the breasts over her clothing.
Cranston was bailed, with an intermediate hearing set for April 28.
WASTED POLICE TIME
A KELSO teenager who wasted police time after claiming he had been assaulted with a knife had sentence deferred until August 4 to be of good behaviour.
Kieron Sinclair-Maddison, 17, who lives at Maxmill Park, admitted making a false accusation of assault at Borders General Hospital on March 16 last year.