Struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship, Dean McCallum persistently harassed his ex-partner.
The 23-year-old, of Winston Road, Galashiels, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and swearing, and making abusive and offensive remarks at High Tweed Mill, King Street, Galashiels, on May 20/21.
Prosecutor Graham Fraser explained: “The accused was in a relationship with this woman for three-and-a-half years, until October 2013, and she is now in a new relationship.
“At 10pm she was at home, with her new boyfriend, and saw the accused outside the house.”
At 3am, McCallum could be heard shouting and swearing, including accusing the woman of having a sexually-transmitted disease. At 6am, he was again shouting outside, asking her new boyfriend to “come out and play”.
An hour later, the woman heard McCallum shouting again, and at 9am he was outside again, accusing her of having a STD and calling her a “f*****g tramp”.
McCallum added: “You can’t hide forever, I will get you.”
His solicitor, Ross Dow, explained: “He struggled to come to terms with the end of the relationship, but says that he would never have caused her physical harm.
“He appreciates she was alarmed and upset by his behaviour.”
Sheriff John Halley told McCallum: “This was one extreme and prolonged episode of harassment, and I regard it as a persistent and serious offence.”
He fined McCallum £400, reduced from £600 for his early plea, and made a one-year non-harrassment order, prohibiting him from contacting or attempting to contact his former partner.
HEROIN POSSESSION
A first offender who had £20 worth of heroin was fined £200.
Paul Lawson, 39, of Craigend Road, Stow, admitted possession of diamorphine at Tesco, Paton Street, Galashiels, on April 24.
Defence solicitor Mat Patrick said: “He has struggled with a drug problem for some time and has had intermittent success overcoming it.”
He said Lawson had purchased the illegal drug earlier that day.
“It is the first time he had bought heroin for many months,” added Mr Patrick.
Sheriff John Halley warned Lawson: “Heroin is a particularly dangerous and destructive drug in society.”
CLUBBER LOST HIS TEMPER
A drunken man, out on licence, lost his temper and punched a window at a Galashiels nightclub.
Thomas McCall, 28, of Carlin Court, Tweedbank, appeared from custody and admitted recklessly damaging a window in Overhaugh Street during the early hours of Sunday.
“He was released on licence on September 6, 2012, and on Saturday night went to the Indigo Rooms around 11.30pm, but was put out because of his increasing level of intoxication,” explained procurator fiscal Graham Fraser, adding: “He came back at 1.30am and got into an argument with the door supervisors, lost his temper and punched a window, causing £100 damage.”
The incident was captured on CCTV.
Defending, Ross Dow said his client told police: “I’m sorry for what I’ve done and will pay for the damage I caused.”
The solicitor told the hearing that McCall had abstained from alcohol for seven years, adding: “This was his first drink since 2007 and he says he is not going to drink again.”
Sheriff John Halley told McCall: “You have pled guilty to an offence of vandalism and drunken behaviour that is not acceptable. Of greater concern is that you committed this offence while on licence.”
McCall was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 compensation for the damage he caused.
ASSAULT ALLEGATION
A Kelso man was ordered not to contact his neighbours and to stay elsewhere.
Steven Greener, 44, of Redden Farm Cottages, appeared from custody and denied assaulting a neighbour by dragging her out of a vehicle by the hair and repeatedly punching and kicking her on Sunday.
He will stand trial on October 16, with an intermediate hearing on September 19.
Greener was released on bail to an alternative address in Newcastle, with a condition not to return to his home address or to contact the alleged victim and her husband.
THREW TV OFF BALCONY
A teenager who breached an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) by being drunk and disorderly has been warned that any further offending could see him locked up.
Eighteen-year-old McRae Fairbairn told police: “I don’t give a f**k.”
Fairbairn, of Inchmyre, Kelso, appeared from custody and admitted breaching an ASBO at Inchmyre on Sunday.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told how a neighbour heard banging and loud music at 5.30am.
Police could hear the music 100 metres away. Officers noticed a television lying on the grass under the balcony of the accused’s address. Inside the house there was an upturned couch and clothing strewn across the floor.
Fairbairn told police he had thrown the television off the balcony.
On his way to the police vehicle, he continued to shout towards the flats, telling officers: “I don’t give a f**k.”
Mr Fraser added: “He said that he was dependent on alcohol and had drunk vodka, whisky and rum in the last 24 hours.”
Iain Burke, defending, said his client could remember little about the offence, adding: “The catalyst for this seems to have been his father going into hospital. He lost the plot and had been drinking very heavily.”
Sheriff John Halley warned Fairbairn: “I am very concerned by the nature of this offence in light of your history – and you need to get the message that if you don’t stop this you will end up deprived of your liberty.
“This is completely unacceptable and you cannot afford any slip-ups.”
Sentence was deferred for reports, until July 25 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
SENTENCE DEFERRED
A woman who assaulted her long-term partner – whom she had previously saved from a heart attack – had sentence deferred until July 21 for reports.
Anne-Marie Gass has been in a relationship with the victim for some 14 years.
Gass, 37, of Hawthorn Road, Galashiels, appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to assaulting her partner at their home on June 20, seizing her by the arm and throwing a hairbrush which struck her leg, all to her injury.
Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser described the background as “fairly complex”.
He explained: “The accused was largely responsible for keeping her alive after she had a heart attack,” adding: “An argument over family matters spiralled out of control.”
RELEASED ON BAIL
A Galashiels man appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court, charged with house-breaking with intent to steal in Galashiels on June 5.
Twenty-one-year-old Steven Finlay, of Halliburton Place, made no plea or declaration and was released on bail.