The Monday court round-up, the opening salvo of the week from the Crime and Courts team.
Haunted by murder
A Dundee man haunted by his father’s murder has admitted assaulting his partner.
Andrew Tosh punched his girlfriend-of-10-years Jemma Keenan, during a disturbance in the city’s Dunholm Road in September 2020.
Tosh, 40, of Bonnethill Court, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, by repeatedly shouting and swearing, while placing Miss Keenan in a state of fear and alarm.
He further admitted assaulting Miss Keenan by punching her on the head and seizing her on the arm.
His solicitor told the court that Tosh had mental health difficulties and suffered from PTSD.
“He had the misfortune of seeing his father murder,” he said.
The court heard Tosh was also affected by the sudden death of his brother years later.
Sheriff Gregor Murray deferred sentence for reports until August 5.
Tosh was remanded in custody, despite pleas from his lawyer that his time on remand had been a “traumatic” experience.
Andrew Tosh Snr was stabbed to death near his home in Dundee’s Mains Road in October 1998.
His killer Owen Kerr was just 18 at the time. He was detained for life in a young offenders’ institute.
Kerr admitted the murder but a plea of not guilty to assaulting Tosh Jnr, then 17, was accepted.
Molotov cocktail attack
Read here how a pair of Arbroath men were jailed for their parts in a petrol bomb attack on a flat in the town. Aiden McGregor admitted attempted murder and Daniel McAleney pled guilty to assault to the endangerment of life.
Embezzlement charge
Footballer Grant Adam faces a charge of embezzling nearly £23,000 from his grandfather while acting as Power of Attorney. The ex-Dundee player was not present at the city’s sheriff court when the case was called. Read about it here.
NATO golf ball raid
Grant Kempson was fined after staging a raid on the “golf ball” former NATO building at Balado, near Kinross. Armed police found the Cardenden man hiding in the roof space. He had been trying to steal live cabling and it was described as a “miracle” he had not killed himself. Read the full story here.
Canna-busted
Drug grower Charalampos Balilai was jailed when he appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court. He admitted cultivating more than £250,000-worth of cannabis in adjoining flats in the city’s Pert Road. Read about his scheme here.
Parcel depot thefts
A man who stole a mobile phone and a handbag before being found with cocaine has been ordered to appear in court.
Mark Barclay made the thefts from the DPD and Interlink Express depots at Dundee’s West Pitkerro Industrial Estate on November 26.
On the following day, Barclay, of Court Street North, was found in possession of the Class-A drug at the same premises.
The 34-year-old was not present when the case called at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Solicitor Anika Jethwa tendered guilty pleas on Barclay’s behalf.
Sentence was deferred until July for Barclay to appear personally in court.
Drink driver
Read here how Cal Innes crashed his girlfriend’s car while five times over the drink drive limit. The sheriff gave a dire warning after the Dunfermline accident.
In case you missed it…
Friday round-up — Cannabis punch-up and racist rant
Thursday round-up — Launched Buckfast bottle and jewellery box
Wednesday round-up — Diverting boredom with rifles
Tuesday round-up — Football bet and Fife siege
The Exploited: Human trafficking in Tayside and Fife exposed
