Man, 51, jailed for assaulting two porters at Borders General Hospital
Sheriff warns behaviour of this kind is ‘unacceptable’
Last updated 8th Jan 2024
A 51-year-old man who assaulted two porters during an early-morning disturbance at Borders General Hospital has today (Monday) been jailed for a total of 200 days.
Scott Shearman, from Hawick, had just been discharged from A&E and was waiting for a taxi home, around 1am on May 13th, 2022 when he became agitated and was asked to calm down.
He spat on one porter and attempted to kick him; while spitting at another, attempting to butt him on the head and kicking him.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Shearman - who's already serving a custodial sentence for other matters - was battling with drug addiction at the time, but had been able to reduce his intake on a methadone programme while in prison.
His solicitor, Stephanie Clinkscale, said her client's partner of 25 years had passed away since he was first locked up last year, and her 32-year-old son had also died last month.
But it was unclear if they were drug-related.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Peter Paterson said the court had made it clear that this sort of behaviour at the BGH - and, in particular, spitting - is "unacceptable".
Armed robbery
A 20-year-old man has admitted threatening another man with a knife, and robbing him of his mobile phone, cash and prescribed medication.
Bartek Janicki - described as a prisoner at Polmont - carried out the attack at an address in Selkirk's Thornfield Crescent on November the 12th last year.
Sentence was deferred at the town's Sheriff Court for background reports, and he was remanded in custody meantime.
The case is due to recall at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on January the 29th, when Janicki will appear via a video-link.
Grew cannabis
A 21-year-old man caught growing cannabis at his home in Galashiels has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard three plants - said to be worth between £200 and £600 each - were seized from Dylan Alexander's home in Broom Drive on May 24th last year.
His solicitor, Liam Alexander, said his client smoked the Class B drug regularly, claiming it helped him with his mental health; and he tried to grow it "as a cost-saving exercise".
Compensation order
A court's today (Monday) heard a 27-year-old man who assaulted two female police officers in Galashiels after a night out fears his drink may have been spiked.
Dale Henry, also known as Dale Grattan, punched one on the head and bit another on the body during the attack, in the town's Channel Street, in May last year.
Sentence has been deferred at Selkirk Sheriff Court for six months, to give him an opportunity to pay each £200 compensation.
Continued without plea
A 26-year-old man has been charged with making offensive remarks and acting in an aggressive manner towards a 13-year-old boy at a youth club in Galashiels.
Anton Bridges, who gave an address in Kelso, is also accused of assaulting the manager of TD1 Youth Hub, on the same date - August 14th last year - by repeatedly attempting to punch him on the body.
His case was continued without plea at Selkirk Sheriff Court until February 5th.
Fined
A 22-year-old woman who stole items from two addresses in Newtown St Boswells has been fined a total of £210 and ordered to pay one of her victim's £100 in compensation.
Ellen Whittaker - who gave an address in Galashiels - took a TV, laptop, and speaker from a property in Roxburghe Place on October 3rd, 2021; while she stole a garden ornament and light from another in Whitefield Avenue on the same day.
She was admonished on a third charge of breaching a home curfew when the case called at Selkirk Sheriff Court today.
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