Dundee man Babar Rasul has been fined £300 after admitting striking a 12-year child with a broom at an address in the city.
Sheriff Gregor Murray said: “You are a middle aged man with no previous convictions.
“You have significant medical difficulties which caused issues with your mental health.
“There was a fair amount of provocation before it occurred.
“It is clear you are being assisted and it is appropriate this will continue.
“In these unusual circumstances I am prepared to fine you.”
Solicitor David Sinclair, in mitigation for Rasul, of Annan Terrace, said: “He is a 49-year-old man who has never been in trouble before.
“I am pleased to see the author of the report has taken into consideration the mental health issues.”
Hare hunters dog ban
A pair of hunters have been banned from keeping dogs after being caught hare coursing. Alexander Stewart, 35, of Aberdeen and Jackie Stewart, 42, from Fife, pled guilty at Forfar Sheriff Court to wildlife offences carried out in 2020.
Rapist faces prison
A serial rapist faces a lengthy jail sentence for attacks on three women in Aberdeen and Fife.
Daniel Malone preyed on sleeping women at addresses in the north-east city and Dysart.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard he had left one of his victim’s in a “terrible” state after she was left outside the front door following an altercation at a flat in Aberdeen.
A friend of the woman, who was in contact with her through the Facetime app, said:
“She landed on the floor.
“She had no shoes on, She had no money.”
She said after a few minutes Malone threw out a pair of a shoes and a £10 note.
The witness said the woman later told her that Malone had raped her in a bedroom at the flat.
Malone denied a series of charges during his trial but was convicted of two offences of rape against committed in 2019 and 2020.
He had earlier raped another woman on two occasions between January 2008 and May 2009 at addresses in Aberdeen and Dysart, when she was sleeping.
His third victim was raped and twice sexually assaulted in Aberdeen between June and September 2020.
Judge Alison Stirling told jurors it had been “a difficult and anxious case” and added: “It is inevitable he is going to be sentenced to a lengthy period in custody.”
Malone, who has previous convictions for assault, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and was remanded in custody, pending the preparation of reports.
Sold booze to schoolgirl
A Monifieth convenience store was caught routinely selling alcohol to a 14-year-old schoolgirl in uniform. Arsalan Haider, 29, the sole liquor licence holder at the family-run Monifieth Premier Store, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and was fined.
Drug-driver
George Kerr has been banned from the road after being caught behind the wheel while well over the cocaine limit.
Kerr, from Dundee, was caught by police at the an access road within Gagiewell Estate near Kellas at around 8am on February 2 this year.
Police described the 62-year-old as being sluggish – something his solicitor Billy Rennie said was a result of his time spent boxing in his youth.
Mr Rennie said his client had been visiting a friend the night before and he had consumed the Class A drug.
At Forfar Sheriff Court Kerr admitted drug-driving and was fined £445 and disqualified from driving for ten months by Sheriff Derek Reekie.
Hung out to dry
A jailed drug dealer was caught with a contraband mobile phone thanks to a suspicious line of clothing dangling from his cell window. Perth Prison staff investigated Reece Smith‘s room after being alerted to the hanging chain of garments, which could be seen from the outside of the building.
Out of options
A Rattray man repeatedly caught driving while disqualified has been jailed.
Perth Sheriff Gillian Wade told Scott Hunter she had run out of options.
The 45-year-old admitting driving while banned and without insurance near his home at Hatton Place on December 1 last year.
Fiscal depute Elizabeth Hodgson said police on routine patrol spotted Hunter behind the wheel of his wife’s car and knew he was already banned
In May, Hunter appeared at the same court and admitted driving through Rattray without a licence or insurance on October 21 2020.
Sheriff Wade told him: “You clearly have no respect for authority or for the law.
“You have to realise that a driving licence is a privilege, not a right.”
“I have no other option but to send you to prison.
Hunter was jailed for eight months and banned from the road for five years.
