Montrose care assistant Diane Birse drunkenly crashed into two cars in her street and has been banned from the roads.
On October 30, just before 3am, the 44-year-old crashed her SsangYong into a Kia and a Hyundai parked near her home on Inch Terrace just before 3am.
All three vehicles were damaged, with Birse’s, worth around £8000 “effectively written off”, according to her solicitor.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, Birse pled guilty to driving carelessly and with excess alcohol (90mics/ 22).
Birse was banned for 16 months and fined £520.
Animal cruelty
A “cruel” Angus couple whose pets had to be euthanised after their “appalling neglect” narrowly avoided imprisonment. Remorseless John and Cynthia Stewart’s dog Ben and cats Ruff and Tumble have all been put to sleep since Scottish SPCA investigators raided their rural home after a tip-off.
Flashed in park
A Fife student flashed her breasts in a Perthshire park, before threatening to throw a wheelchair user into a pond.
Friends called police about Rhiannon McKay‘s “eccentric” and “frightening” behaviour at Scone Recreational Park.
The 30-year-old did not attend Perth Sheriff Court when her case called but solicitor John McLaughlin pled guilty to a charge of public indecency on her behalf.
McKay also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the Abbey Road park on June 22 last year.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson told the court the accused and complainer, who has cerebral palsy, met for the first time that day at a friend’s house.
She said: “Witnesses noticed that the accused’s behaviour began to alter and become more eccentric.”
McKay suggested a walk to the park to which others reluctantly agreed.
Ms Hodgson said the accused had begun to behave “erratically and consumed alcohol from her handbag.”
As they walked, McKay turned to the complainer and asked: “Do you want to see my t**s?”
The fiscal said: “The complainer declined. However, the accused lifted up her top and exposed herself.”
Witnesses were “uncomfortable” but “tried to continue to engage with her” until and argument broke out.
Ms Hodgson said McKay “took umbrage” to a comment by the complainer.
McKay told him: “You’re being too political.
“If you continue being too political, I will throw you in that pond.”
Ms Hodgson said: “The complainer knows she may have been exaggerating but because of her level of intoxication, he was still fearful of her.”
The matter was reported to police later that day.
Mr McLaughlin, defending, said: “Clearly a lot of drink was taken and Ms McKay accepts she acted in a stupid manner.
“She apologises for her conduct.”
Sheriff Francis Gill deferred sentenced until March 10.
‘Blows’ blamed
A former boxer blamed “blows to the head” for challenging police to a fight in Dundee. Repeat offender Ryan Warden, a former bantamweight fighter, admitted acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards officers on Beauly Avenue in April 2021.
Post office robbery threat
Fife man David Watson phoned the ambulance service and threatened to carry out an armed robbery at a village shop.
Fiscal depute Azrah Yousaf told Dunfermline Sheriff Court police arrived at Saline General Store to find Watson, 40, sitting outside on a gravel bin, still on the phone to the ambulance service.
Watson said he had no support after leaving prison and would rob the shop to “get back to jail” and “rob the post office if you don’t take me away”.
Ms Yousaf said he had earlier told the ambulance call handler he would “commit armed robbery” and “take hostages and had to be arrested or would hurt someone”.
Defence lawyer David Bell stressed none of the threats were carried out and his client waited outside the store for emergency services to arrive.
The solicitor said: “He wants to apologise to emergency services and anyone who did hear what he said in the shop”.
Watson, of Lumphinnans Road, Lochgelly, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly making threats on October 29 2022.
Sheriff Peter Anderson told Watson – currently in prison for another matter – what he did was “disruptive and disturbing” that he understood he had particular difficulties.
He said: “To be released from prison without support sets you up to fail”.
He imposed a structured deferred sentence for 12 weeks to provide support – including access to mental health services – when he leaves prison this time.
Speeding football boss
Dundee United sporting director Tony Asghar was given penalty points after admitting speeding in Fife. The Tannadice boss already had six penalty points on his licence when he was caught at 45mph is a 30mph zone.
Petition appearance
James Haggerty, 23, from Leven appeared in private at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
He appeared on a petition alleging a threatening and abusive behaviour, assault, culpable and reckless conduct and breaching a court order.
Haggerty made no plea and was remanded in custody as his case was continued for further examination.
The charges are believed to stem from an alleged incident in Kennoway on the morning of Friday January 13.
Axe threat
A moneylender threatened a Perth couple while wielding an axe after they refused to pay their son’s outstanding £450 debt. The terrified couple called police when Andrew Donaldson, 40, from Methven, pulled up outside their home and brandished the weapon, saying he would smash their son’s skull in.
Petrol thief
Scone woman Susan Sutherland admitted stealing fuel from garages across Perthshire.
Perth Sheriff Court heard the 36-year-old, of Cartmoor Avenue, struck at Blairgowrie’s Tesco filling station on June 16, last year.
She stole more fuel from Pitlochry Service Station on July 27.
Days later, on August 1, she struck at the Tesco Express in Scone and on August 5, she stole fuel from Crieff Garage.
Sheriff Francis Gill deferred sentence until February 15 for background reports.
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