Convicted robber warned man he would need 'a bullet-proof vest, as he was going to blow him up with a shotgun'
The court heard the row centred on damage to another person's car, and then escalated...
Last updated 13th Jan 2025
A 32-year-old convicted robber who sparked a police pursuit after threatening to shoot another man, and then turning up at his address in Hawick, has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Monday) heard Scott Jackson attempted to call his victim more than 30 times and, every time he answered, he made threats to harm him.
Police were alerted and arrived in time to overhear one of the calls in which Jackson, of Galalaw Road, Hawick, warned the man he would need "a bullet-proof vest, as he was going to blow him up with a shotgun".
The court heard the row centred on damage to another person's car, and then escalated.
Officers watched as a grey Volkswagen stopped 50 yards short of the address they were at in Hillend Drive before speeding off, past a marked police vehicle.
They activated their blue lights and Jackson was pulled over in nearby Eildon Road.
But, just as the PC placed his hand on the vehicle's door handle, the car sped off.
A further pursuit followed as Jackson made his escape towards Denholm, at estimated speeds in excess of 90mph.
But the court heard officers had to abandon the chase "due to a lack of tactical units", before the vehicle was later found in a field with extensive damage.
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When officers eventually caught up with him, Jackson told them had it not been for threats towards his mum, "none of it would have happened".
His solicitor, Ross Dow, explained his client - who had moved to the Borders from Manchester - was worried for his mum's safety, and that the threats were "all he could think of" to say to scare the complainer away.
And, Mr Dow added, when Jackson spotted the police he "panicked".
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The incident unfolded between November 1st and 2nd last year.
Jackson previously admitted making the menacing phone calls, failing to stop for a uniformed police officer, and a charge of dangerous driving; as well as failing to stop and report an accident, after mounting a verge and colliding with a gate.
Returning for sentence, Sheriff Donald Ferguson warned him he could "easily" be sent to prison.
Instead, he ordered him to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work as part of an 18-month Community Payback Order with supervision, and disqualified him from driving for 20 months.
Jackson will also have to resit the extended driving test.
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