A drug dealer jailed for his part in a £40k heroin seizure was caught with an illegal iPhone at HMP Perth.
The contraband device was found by officers during a routine search of Billy Black’s cell in December 2020.
Black, now out of jail, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted having a communications device while behind bars.
Sheriff William Wood told the 43-year-old: “I’m not going to send you back to prison if that can be avoided.”
He deferred sentence until June 1 for background reports to “look at alternatives”.
Black, of Strathairlie Avenue, Arbroath, was jailed for 40 months in 2014 after police uncovered several bags of heroin at his accomplice Donna Carnegie’s home.
The court heard he was now running his own gardening business.
Neighbour-from-hell
Neighbour-from-hell Dean Duggan flooded his downstairs neighbours’ flat because, he claimed, he was fed up with them calling the police about him. The Brechin man, who faced 18 charges in court and has 99 previous convictions, was jailed.
Unwelcome Valentine
A Perthshire man has been ordered to stay clear of his ex-girlfriend, after he bombarded her with unwanted letters and presents.
Jason Clark pled guilty to engaging in a course of conduct which caused his former partner fear or alarm, between January 1 2019, and Valentine’s Day 2020.
The 30-year-old, of Main Street, Almondbank, repeatedly sent her text messages and went to her home address in Crieff.
He also repeatedly posted handwritten letters and delivered gifts.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said the pair had been together for four years but separated at the end of 2017.
“In the letters, the accused made it clear that he was aware that the complainer had a new partner, which she found concerning,” said the fiscal depute.
The woman reported the matter to police on February 12.
Two days later, she received sweets and a handwritten Valentine’s Day card.
Sheriff William Wood told Clark “It must have been distressing enough for your ex-partner that she felt obliged to bring this to the attention of the police.”
Clark was placed on supervision for 12 months and must carry out 110 hours of unpaid work.
The court also imposed a year-long non-harassment order.
Speeding sportsman
Tayside boxer Stephen Donald leaped from a speeding car seconds before it smashed into a bollard during a dramatic police chase through the streets of Dundee, in which he reached speeds of up to 80mph. The 23-year-old was banned and given a supervision order.
Street fighter
A young Dunfermline mum engaged in a street fight with a 15-year-old schoolgirl.
Lamarah Brigham, 20, left her mother’s home and challenged the teenager in the street after hearing raised voices outside.
Procurator fiscal depute Jill Currie told Dunfermline Sheriff Court the girl had shouted towards other school pupils playing football nearby and Bingham’s mother – who had previously experienced antisocial behaviour from school pupils to the extent police had been called – shouted back.
The court heard there was nothing to suggest Brigham’s victim had been previously involved.
The depute fiscal said when Brigham came into the street she approached the child and asked her: “Why are you giving my mum cheek?”
The confrontation became physical and the complainer and accused were seen to be fighting with one another and thereafter the complainer walked away and made a teacher aware and police were contacted.
Brigham pled guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner on December 2 2020 by engaging in a fight with the schoolgirl in Izatt Avenue.
Defence lawyer Stephen Morrison said Brigham had heard shouting as her mother made her way home and came outside and “put two and two together and probably got five”.
The lawyer said his client was a first offender and has her own mental health difficulties, including being involved in a serious car accident in 2018 which has left her with flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks.
Sheriff Francis Gill said Brigham’s behaviour on the day was “not acceptable” and adjourned sentencing for three months for her to be of good behaviour.
Arbroath abuser
Arbroath sex offender Scott Galloway, who molested two girls, 20 years apart, has been jailed. The 63-year-old attacked a 12-year-old and a 13-year-old. One victim locked herself in a cupboard to stop him molesting her.
Threatening
Colin Swan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted damaging property at his former partner’s home in June 2020.
He further pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, likely to cause fear or alarm, by forcing entry, entering uninvited and seizing a mobile phone.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said Swan attempted to lock the door when she saw him outside as he was “banging on the door and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.”
However, he barged his way inside, picked up a picture frame and threw it, chipping a door.
When he left with his ex’s mobile phone, he hit a hanging basket and broke the chain.
Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said Swan, of Canal Street, had since gone back to fix the basket.
“He is trying to turn things around,” she said.
Swan was told to carry out 85 hours of unpaid work.
The full caseload of the Dundee Crime and Courts Team can be found here.
