An Angus sex offender has been locked up after sending sexual letters to a church-going woman.
John Dunbar appeared from custody at Forfar Sheriff Court to hear he would be remanded until the new year after admitting the offence.
Dunbar appeared in the dock aided by a stick after admitting that on October 23, he sent the sexual letters at a church in Arbroath.
Dunbar, of Thornton Place in Forfar, sent the “abusive and sexual” letters to a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Solicitor Billy Rennie said his client has learning disabilities and mental health issues and had spent a week in jail for the first time in his life.
After Sheriff Krista Johnston further remanded Dunbar for reports, he informed her he has two budgies.
She told the 48-year-old: “You’re a mature enough to know better than to behave in this way.”
Dunbar was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and will be sentenced on January 19.
‘Unguided missile’
A trailer with faulty brakes turned into “an unguided missile” when it detached from the Land Rover towing it and killed a passing motorist, a judge said. Mark McVay was told he was criminally responsible for causing the death of 38-year-old Michelle Russell in Saline, Fife, because he had failed to make sure the trailer was hitched securely and he was jailed.
Soldier’s mix-up over privates
A former soldier from Angus has been fined after accidentally sending housing association staff a photo of his privates.
Graeme Ogilvie had been asked by Caledonian Housing Association to photograph a letter he was sending about his tenancy and email it to them.
However, an employee was shocked to find “90%” of the image he sent them was the letter and REST was his “own body parts.”
Forfar Sheriff Court heard Ogilvie, 61, “sleeps commando” and had accidentally included more than just the letter in the photo.
Later in the afternoon, he phoned the association to discuss the email, unaware his privates were in the image.
The woman on the other end of the phone was described as “shocked… disgusted… and offended.”
She told management who contacted police.
After officers spoke to Ogilvie, he contacted another employee at the association to apologise.
Ogilvie, of Threewells Drive in Forfar, admitted sending a grossly offensive or indecent image on August 8.
Sheriff Krista Johnston fined him £130.
She said: “There’s nothing that concerns me about the sexual element of this offence.”
Bond party allegation
The trial of Catholic priest Christopher Heenan has heard him deny he sexually assaulted a teenager after drinking too many Martinis at a James Bond-themed cocktail party. He denied assaulting a 17-year-old man during a get-together at a property in Dunfermline. The trial continues.
‘Distorted view of consent’
A man who molested a teenage girl while she slept has been ordered to engage in a rehabilitation course to challenge his “distorted view of consent.”
Paul Jankowski fondled and kissed the 16-year-old, placed his hand inside her underwear and sexually touched her when she was asleep on a sofa.
The 43-year-old admitted sexually assaulting the teen at a property in High Valleyfield in August last year.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Sheriff Susan Duff told Jankowski she was concerned about his lack of insight.
The sheriff paused the hearing to give Jankowksi the chance to read his victim’s written impact statement.
“I wanted you to read this so you can have some understanding of the impact of your behaviour on this 16-year-old girl,” she said.
“She has had to change her life more than you have and this wasn’t anything she asked for.
“However, sending you to prison would do nothing to address your behaviour.”
Jankwoski, of Shawpark Avenue, Sauchie, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and supervision for three years.
He was told to comply with a programme to examine “the question of consent” and “victim awareness”.
His solicitor told the court Jankowski had suffered a brain injury which made it difficult for him to process situations.
BMX bandits
A security guard was sacked after dragging a child to the ground as a bicycle gang rampaged round a Dundee shopping centre. Darren Stewart tackled the hooded teenage gang as they rampaged round the top floor of the Wellgate but the child told his parents, who complained to centre management. Stewart was admonished.
Stole from shed firm
A woman has admitted embezzling thousands of pounds from a Perthshire shed-building company.
Alison Carlin pocketed £16,000 while working as office manager at Errol-based Gillies and Mackay.
The 40-year-old’s case called in her absence at Perth Sheriff Court AND a guilty plea was tendered on her behalf.
Carlin, of Wicks O’ Baiglie Road, Bridge of Earn, embezzled the cash over a year-long period from January 31 2018 at the company’s East Inchmichael Farm.
Sentnece was deferred for Carlin’s personal appearance.
Dogs to be put to death
A pair of staffies which mauled a beloved black Labrador to death in Montrose will be destroyed and their owner is banned from keeping pets for a decade. Ian Nicolson narrowly avoided prison sentence after Forfar Sheriff Court heard his out-of-control dogs attacked other pets and people on three occasions.
Assault admitted
Alexander Shannon, 40, of Craigmore Street, Dundee admitted assault at the city’s sheriff court and will be sentenced on January 20.
He attacked his housemate in the street, put him in a headlock and pressed a key to his neck on March 5 last year after having an argument with him over the phone.
On the corner of Lothian Road and Summerfield Avenue, Shannon met the man and started throwing punches, which were dodged, before the headlock and key attack
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