Criminal charges against an ex-soldier accused of possessing “extreme” pornography involving fish have been dropped.
Declan Walton faced allegations he had illegal images at an address in his home town of Glenrothes.
The 32-year-old, who was jailed earlier this year for endangering a baby’s life, was accused of possessing two files which – according to court papers – depicted “an adult male engaging in sexual activity with a fish and an animal in a realistic way.”
Walton denied the offence and his trial was due to begin at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Friday.
However, fiscal depute Eve McKaig said the case would be formally “not called” and proceedings would be brought to an end.
A Crown Office spokeswoman said later: “After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, including the available admissible evidence, the procurator fiscal decided that there should be no further proceedings taken at this time.”
She added: “The Crown reserves the right to proceed in the future should further information become available.”
Afghanistan veteran Walton was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years at the High Court in Glasgow in January.
The court heard how he violently shook a baby boy leaving him with life-changing injuries.
He attacked the 10-week-old child at a house in Glenrothes, Fife, in June 2020.
Prosecutors said that the baby remains in hospital more than two years later.
He has cerebral palsy, has to be fed through a tube, and it is unlikely he will ever live independently.
Belittling boyfriend
A woman recovering from an eating disorder was told by her abusive ex-partner that she “looked like a dead body”.
Jonathan Methven, of High Valleyfield in Fife, called his former girlfriend “skinny” and told her to have an abortion after finding out she was pregnant.
The 21-year-old appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour against the woman between August 2021 and February 2022.
This included making derogatory remarks about her appearance, unreasonable demands and threats.
Methven, of Daly Gardens, was ordered to pay his victim compensation and must stay away from her for three years.
Dealer avoids jail
A Carnoustie drug dealer caught with an “awful lot of cannabis” has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Cameron Laidlaw‘s home was raided by police searching for drugs he had picked up just hours earlier.
He appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court, having previously admitted being concerned in the supply of the Class B drug.
The 26-year-old’s Dundee Street home was searched by officers in the morning of September 17 last year.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson previously told the court: “The accused answered the door and allowed access.
“He co-operated with police.
“A systematic search was conducted of the address.”
Police found three mobile phones, herbal substance in two tubs and some bags.
Scales were discovered, along with an empty vacuum bag containing remnants of herbal substance.
In total, police seized £3,655 in cash from the property.
After being tested, the drugs were established to be cannabis.
Laidlaw was taken to Dundee Police headquarters at West Bell Street and interviewed.
He told officers: “I picked it up at 11pm last night.”
The raid happened at 7.50am the next day.
At the sentencing hearing, solicitor Nick Whelan said his client had bought the stash for £5,000. Laidlaw was selling it in larger eight ounce deals with higher discounts.
However, prosecutors claimed that if the drugs were sold in the smallest, most profitable quarter ounce deals, he could have made a five figure sum.
Mr Whelan said: “He was taking up to 5g a day himself.
“It was to feed his habit and also to allow him to continue to buy more.
“He’s got a fairly limited record, nothing of an analogous record.
“It’s been a naive attempt on his part. There’s nothing sophisticated about what he was doing.”
Sheriff Krista Johnston ordered Laidlaw to complete 115 hours of unpaid work in the next nine months as a direct alternative to custody.
She said: “This was an awful lot of cannabis which you had and I have to take into account the high value.”
Teen had knife in shopping centre
A teenager who was caught with a knife in a busy Perth shopping centre has been locked up.
Brandon McCluskey told cops he had taken the blade out “for protection” after several people had made threats against him.
The 18-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted having a bladed article in the city centre on January 25.
The court heard McCulskey, listed as a prisoner in HMP Polmont, has a previous conviction for assault with a knife.
Sheriff William Wood told him that he had “run out of opportunities”.
Brechin knifeman ‘over reacted’
A man being evicted from his Brechin home hurled a golf club and a knife at another man.
Forfar Sheriff Court heard that 55-year-old Anthony Love was in the process of being evicted from his home of more than a decade when neighbours were in the process of upgrading the communal garden between Montrose Street and Nursery Lane.
On June 17, 2021, Love flipped while a man was viewing the garden.
He began shouting about neighbours not cutting the grass before the man began to record his meltdown.
Love picked up a golf club and attempted to strike the man with it, but the man managed to grab it and snap it into two pieces.
At that point, Love entered his home and was followed by the man.
However, he quickly left when Love picked up a knife which he eventually threw at him.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, Love admitted the assault, and also admitted resisting arrest after police attended and took him to Dundee HQ.
Solicitor Billy Rennie said: “There’s little to say in mitigation.
“He accepts entirely to overreacting.
“I think his mental health is a significant contributor to his lifestyle.”
Sheriff Krista Johnston placed Love on a restriction of liberty order and granted forfeiture of both weapons.
Love must stay in his new home in Seagate, Montrose, between 7pm and 7am everyday for five months.
The sheriff said: “This was disgraceful behaviour by you towards people who were coming into the communal area.
“I can only imagine how frightening it must be.
“I’m just persuaded that I can deal with you in a way other than imposing a custodial sentence.”
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
