A Dundee man has been jailed after he “accidentally” smashed a pane of glass at the city’s sheriff court.
Brian Edwards, 35, lashed out in an interview room before meeting his solicitor at the end of last year.
It comes as figures show the public purse spent more than £12,000 fixing damaged court facilities across Scotland since the start of 2020.
Depute fiscal Christine Allan told the court: “It was around 12.45pm on Tuesday November 23, the accused was taken to interview room two for a consultation with his solicitor.
“He was the only person in the room.
“Witnesses heard a smashing sound and observed an observation window in the door had been knocked out and glass was lying on the floor.
“The accused was returned to his cell.
“The value of the damage caused was £100.”
Edwards was previously convicted of smashing a glass window at Dundee Sheriff Court in 2016, causing around £350 damage, in a similar violent incident.
Vandalism costs
Court rooms across Tayside and Fife have experienced numerous incidents of vandalism, costing tax payers thousands of pounds in repairs.
Figures obtained by us using freedom of information legislation lay bare the cost to the public of damage caused in courts.
The most expensive instance came in 2018, when Forfar received £1,200 to repair damage done there.
The banning of visitors to the country’s courts as the pandemic raged on in 2020 and 2021 saw repair costs more than half.
£9,500 was spent in 2019, compared to only £3,300 the year after.
With the resumption of near-normality in 2021, vandalism repairs went back to near pre-pandemic levels, with £8,500 being spent that year.
Almost £30,000 worth of damage has been perpetrated in Scottish courts in the last five years.
Just meant to punch door
In mitigation for Edwards, solicitor Jim Caird said: “He is 35-years-old, he is currently on remand on another matter.
“He does have much regret about his behaviour.
“He had received bad news.
“He tells me he didn’t mean to hit the window, he just meant to punch the door of the interview room.
“He has asked your lordship to deal with this matter today.”
Sheriff Robert More sentenced Edwards, of Dunholm Road, to 60 days in prison.
Edwards apologised for the damage as he was led back to the cells following sentence.
