A newlywed has been left in the doghouse after stranding his bride hundreds of miles from home after a catastrophic court appearance.
Martin Lawrence had driven from Leicester to appear in the dock at Perth where he was supposed to face sentencing in connection with counterfeit money.
He had been caught passing dodgy £50 notes to shopkeepers across Perth and Kinross in 2016 and was due to learn his fate, only for the court to hear he had not bothered to appear for reports.
His new wife had accompanied him north and the amorous couple had punctuated court proceedings with displays of affection.
Their demeanour changed, however, as Sheriff Lindsay Foulis remanded Lawrence in custody, telling him he had no confidence in his likelihood of complying with the court’s orders if at liberty.
As his wife burst into tears and the shock registered with him, he revealed she couldn’t drive and would be left 358 miles from home, unable to move his car.
He begged the sheriff to reconsider his judgement only to hear the repeated reply, “I have made my decision”.
Lawrence’s animated pleas made it difficult for court security staff to restrain him, but they were eventually able to handcuff the disconsolate 18-year-old and lead him to the cells.
Lawrence, of Monmouth Drive in Leicester, had previously pleaded guilty to three charges relating to passing or tendering bank notes that he knew to be counterfeit.
He admitted passing a counterfeit Bank of England £50 note at the Co-op store in Blairgowrie’s Wellmeadow on June 12 last year and further notes at the Nisa Store in Main Street, Bridgend and at Sugar and Spice in Main Street, Auchterarder, on June 15.
Solicitor Steve Lafferty said: “Mr Lawrence married six weeks ago and his wife has accompanied him to court.
“They reside in the Leicester area, where he works with his father.”
He asked the court to give Lawrence a second change to meet social workers and have a report prepared on sentencing options.
Sheriff Foulis, however, said that given the missing report, the seriousness of the offences and his previous record, giving the accused his liberty was an issue.
He ordered Lawrence to be remanded in custody until April 5.
In 2016, Police Scotland was forced to issue warnings after receiving several reports of counterfeit Bank of England £50 notes circulating in Perth and Kinross.
Businesses were urged to thoroughly check notes, particularly if customers were buying low cost items.
