A sheriff has relaxed a dad-to-be’s bail to allow him to attend the baby scan.
Sean Paterson had appealed to be allowed to go back to the partner he is alleged to have assaulted as the couple prepare for the new arrival, but the concession of a specific change to attend the ante-natal appointment was as much as the 38-year-old was granted.
Paterson, of Bellahill Farm, Aberlemno, appeared before Sheriff Kevin Veal at Forfar where he denied charges relating to an alleged incident in Forfar on December 17.
He is accused of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on the pedestrian access leading from The Vennel to Asda, New Road, Forfar, and assaulting a woman by repeatedly pushing her on the body and punching her on the face.
Alternatively, Paterson is charged with culpably or recklessly pushing the woman on the body and punching her on the face while she was descending a flight of stairs pushing a pram with a child, to their danger, possessing a knife and behaving in a threatening manner at Forfar police office by threatening to kill an officer.
The alleged victim of the assault had submitted a letter to the court requesting that the normal bail conditions banning Paterson from having any contact with her before the trial be relaxed to allow them to be together and the accused give her support.
Fiscal depute Hannah Kennedy opposed the bail change, but Sheriff Veal said: ”Provided we know the exact date and time of the scan I would allow him to attend, but only for that specific occasion.”