A Dundee murderer can only remember his last 24 hours after suffering a head injury in a car crash.
Roy Milne was jailed for life in 2005 after attacking rival George Cushnie with an baseball bat in the city’s Napier Place.
The painter and decorator lashed out after being subjected to a year-long hate campaign, Edinburgh High Court heard at the time.
Milne returned to the dock on Friday after being caught with an illegal SIM card in Perth Prison.
The 49-year-old appeared via video link at the city’s sheriff court and admitted having the unauthorised device on January 27.
Fiscal depute Matthew Kerr told the court: “The accused was serving a life sentence, having been recalled to prison.
“There is no date for his liberation.”
Mr Kerr said: “At about 2.10pm, prison officers attended for a routine search of the accused’s cell.
“The accused’s prison-issued mobile phone was checked and was found to contain an illicit SIM card.”
Milne’s solicitor told the court: “He had suffered a serious injury as a result of a car accident, before he was recalled.
“Now his memory only goes back to the last 24 hours.”
The lawyer said: “He has actually improved now he is back in custody, because he is amongst familiar surroundings.
“He is supported by other prisoners who collect food and things for him.
“Mr Milne had this SIM card because his prison issued phone was not working, and it was important for him to keep in touch with family.”
Sheriff Derek Reekie sentenced Milne to four months imprisonment, which will run alongside his current sentence.
Accused is fighting in Ukraine
A Fife man accused of having a homophobic rant against police failed to attend court because he is “fighting Russian aggression in Ukraine”.
A warrant was issued for Kyle Linden who had been due to face allegations of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at an intermediate hearing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Thursday.
The 33-year-old wrote to the procurator fiscal’s office to say he was busy fighting on the Ukrainian front line.
Sheriff William Gilchrist issued a warrant for his arrest.
Puppy ‘not a danger’
A senior lecturer at Dundee University let his German Shepherd puppy run amok at a Perthshire beauty spot and bite a cyclist.
Gillian Ramsay was chased down and attacked by the dog as she pedalled on Alyth Hill.
She was rushed to hospital for treatment to puncture wounds, scratches and bruises.
Dr Masoud Hayatdavoodi – of the university’s School of Science and Engineering – appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and pled guilty to a breach of the Dangerous Dogs Act.
He admitted he was in charge of the dog, called Ana, which was “dangerously out of control”.
The one-year-old German Shepherd pursued Ms Ramsay and bit her on the body to her injury.
Hayatdavoodi, a senior lecturer in civil engineering, will be sentenced next month.
Prison assault claim
Road rage killer Paul Lyons was left severely injured following an alleged assault at Perth Prison, prosecutors claim.
It is alleged the 41-year-old, who was jailed for ramming a motorist off the M74 in 2010, was permanently disfigured following the attack on February 21, last year.
Peter Allan is accused of assaulting Lyons by struggling with him and striking him on the face with an “unknown sharp implement”.
Allan, listed on court papers as an inmate at HMP Glenochil, denies the charge.
The case against the 32-year-old called at Perth Sheriff Court and was continued for three weeks for “further enquiries” until August 4.
The full caseload of the Dundee Crime and Courts Team can be found here.
