Nwicker60
22-Dec-11, 16:44
Made threats then punched former girlfriend
A WICK man who didn’t take kindly to being asked to leave a party in a Wick house, but returned carrying a knife, was jailed for two years, at the town’s sheriff court, today.
When asked by one of the guests to hand it over the blade, Hugh Newlands replied: “I’m going to have you.”
The dramatic incident was described by senior fiscal depute, David Barclay, on Monday when reports were called for and were submitted today. Newlands, (23) admitted charges of assault and threatening behaviour, on indictment.
The court was told that Newlands and four other people were enjoying drinks in the house in Henrietta Street, Wick, on October 31, in what, senior fiscal depute David Barclay described as “a friendly atmosphere”. However, Newlands became boisterous” and was asked to leave. He complied with the request but returned 20-30 minutes later with the knife, threatening to harm those present.
But shortly afterwards he did part with the knife to one of the guests who put it away safely. Everyone went back into the house but suddenly Newlands lashed out at Leanna Gunn, his former girlfriend, punching her repeatedly on her head, causing her to fall. She sustained a swollen nose which was bleeding, two swollen lips and a bump on the forehead, but did not require medical treatment.
Solicitor Neil Wilson said that Newlands’ recollection of events was “somewhat hazy”. He had been drinking at the house in question and had also taken some diazepam tablets.
Mr Wilson said that Newlands had had a heroin habit since the age of 16 but had recently become drug free. He added:”The accused tells me he has come to the point in his life where he wants to break his circle of offending.”
The solicitor said that Newlands fully expected a custodial sentence and appealed to the sheriff to mitigate the length of it.
Sheriff Berry reviewing Newlands’ record said he had previous convictions for violence, malicious mischief, breach of bail and domestic offences and commented that his expectation of a custodial sentence was “entirely accurate”.
The sheriff added: “You were in possession of a knife which was quite a terrible experience for others although it was surrendered .”
Newlands will be subject to a supervisory order after he is released from prison and this would enable the public to be protected and give the system some control over the accused’s movements for the period of a year.
Smashed window in ex-girlfriend’s house
Sentencing Ian Steven for smashing a window in his ex-girlfriend’s council house, Sheriff Berry commented on the accused’s previous record for vandalism and warned him it had better be his last such offence.
Commenting on the regularity with which cases of his type come before the court, he sheriff said: “Destroying other people’s property is one of the things that causes huge annoyance to perfectly decent ordinary people.”
Steven, of Oldwick Road, Wick, admitted breaking the window of the house in the town’s Bremner’s Walk. The incident, on November 29, occurred after he turned up at her house under the influence of alcohol late on November, and she refused to let him in.
Steven was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, under a year-long community payback order.
Sheriff Berry warned him that failure to comply with any aspect of the order would almost certainly result in a custodial sentence. The accused wil also have to pay £150 for the damage to the window and the sheriff put it-“so that the public purse does not suffer the loss”.
Scorned chance, result-detention
A THURSO teenager who scorned a chance and breached a community payback order the same day as it as imposed, was sentenced to four months detention.
Martin Budge, of Dunnet Road, appeared from custody, on Wednesday, after being arrested on a warrant.
He had previously admitted taking and driving away a bus from a depot in Thurso and having no licence and insurance and was ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work, and was banned from driving for two year. The offences occurred on November 20.
Today, the court was told that Budge (17) had failed to keep an appointment with his social worker, on Tuesday, after being sentenced and had instead taken the chance of a lift back to Thurso.
Sheriff Berry told him: “You were told in clear terms what you had to do under the community payback order, but two hours later you do what you wanted and went home, in a clear breach of the court order on a a very serious charge. I had previously considered that nothing else but other than a custodial sentence could be appropriate and my earlier suspicion was fulfilled.”
Harboured 14-year-old...sheriff calls for investigation
THE sheriff has called for a report on the precise relationship between a man and the missing 14-year-old he allowed into his house.
The accused admitted on Wednesday having harboured or concealed the girl who had absconded from a children’s home. She had been allowed out to attend a dance but the authorities became concerned when she didn’t turn up.
Police who learned she had been seen with the man called at his home in a Caithness village. The accused denied the teenager was in his home but officers spotted her.
Solicitor Jo MacDonald said that the girl had only arrived at the house, half-an-hour before the police and she had told the accused to say she wasn’t there.
Sheriff Berry said he was concerned as to the “the real nature” of the relationship between the two who can't be named for legal reasons, and remanded the accused in custody until January 6, pending an investigation and background reports.
A WICK man who didn’t take kindly to being asked to leave a party in a Wick house, but returned carrying a knife, was jailed for two years, at the town’s sheriff court, today.
When asked by one of the guests to hand it over the blade, Hugh Newlands replied: “I’m going to have you.”
The dramatic incident was described by senior fiscal depute, David Barclay, on Monday when reports were called for and were submitted today. Newlands, (23) admitted charges of assault and threatening behaviour, on indictment.
The court was told that Newlands and four other people were enjoying drinks in the house in Henrietta Street, Wick, on October 31, in what, senior fiscal depute David Barclay described as “a friendly atmosphere”. However, Newlands became boisterous” and was asked to leave. He complied with the request but returned 20-30 minutes later with the knife, threatening to harm those present.
But shortly afterwards he did part with the knife to one of the guests who put it away safely. Everyone went back into the house but suddenly Newlands lashed out at Leanna Gunn, his former girlfriend, punching her repeatedly on her head, causing her to fall. She sustained a swollen nose which was bleeding, two swollen lips and a bump on the forehead, but did not require medical treatment.
Solicitor Neil Wilson said that Newlands’ recollection of events was “somewhat hazy”. He had been drinking at the house in question and had also taken some diazepam tablets.
Mr Wilson said that Newlands had had a heroin habit since the age of 16 but had recently become drug free. He added:”The accused tells me he has come to the point in his life where he wants to break his circle of offending.”
The solicitor said that Newlands fully expected a custodial sentence and appealed to the sheriff to mitigate the length of it.
Sheriff Berry reviewing Newlands’ record said he had previous convictions for violence, malicious mischief, breach of bail and domestic offences and commented that his expectation of a custodial sentence was “entirely accurate”.
The sheriff added: “You were in possession of a knife which was quite a terrible experience for others although it was surrendered .”
Newlands will be subject to a supervisory order after he is released from prison and this would enable the public to be protected and give the system some control over the accused’s movements for the period of a year.
Smashed window in ex-girlfriend’s house
Sentencing Ian Steven for smashing a window in his ex-girlfriend’s council house, Sheriff Berry commented on the accused’s previous record for vandalism and warned him it had better be his last such offence.
Commenting on the regularity with which cases of his type come before the court, he sheriff said: “Destroying other people’s property is one of the things that causes huge annoyance to perfectly decent ordinary people.”
Steven, of Oldwick Road, Wick, admitted breaking the window of the house in the town’s Bremner’s Walk. The incident, on November 29, occurred after he turned up at her house under the influence of alcohol late on November, and she refused to let him in.
Steven was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, under a year-long community payback order.
Sheriff Berry warned him that failure to comply with any aspect of the order would almost certainly result in a custodial sentence. The accused wil also have to pay £150 for the damage to the window and the sheriff put it-“so that the public purse does not suffer the loss”.
Scorned chance, result-detention
A THURSO teenager who scorned a chance and breached a community payback order the same day as it as imposed, was sentenced to four months detention.
Martin Budge, of Dunnet Road, appeared from custody, on Wednesday, after being arrested on a warrant.
He had previously admitted taking and driving away a bus from a depot in Thurso and having no licence and insurance and was ordered to carry out 160 hours unpaid work, and was banned from driving for two year. The offences occurred on November 20.
Today, the court was told that Budge (17) had failed to keep an appointment with his social worker, on Tuesday, after being sentenced and had instead taken the chance of a lift back to Thurso.
Sheriff Berry told him: “You were told in clear terms what you had to do under the community payback order, but two hours later you do what you wanted and went home, in a clear breach of the court order on a a very serious charge. I had previously considered that nothing else but other than a custodial sentence could be appropriate and my earlier suspicion was fulfilled.”
Harboured 14-year-old...sheriff calls for investigation
THE sheriff has called for a report on the precise relationship between a man and the missing 14-year-old he allowed into his house.
The accused admitted on Wednesday having harboured or concealed the girl who had absconded from a children’s home. She had been allowed out to attend a dance but the authorities became concerned when she didn’t turn up.
Police who learned she had been seen with the man called at his home in a Caithness village. The accused denied the teenager was in his home but officers spotted her.
Solicitor Jo MacDonald said that the girl had only arrived at the house, half-an-hour before the police and she had told the accused to say she wasn’t there.
Sheriff Berry said he was concerned as to the “the real nature” of the relationship between the two who can't be named for legal reasons, and remanded the accused in custody until January 6, pending an investigation and background reports.