An Angus man will have a happy Christmas after a sheriff decided not to interfere with his December 24 release date yesterday.
Jason Bruce appeared from custody before Sheriff Pino Di Emidio at Forfar, having previously admitted maliciously smashing a window at a house on Dishlandtown Street, Arbroath, on April 3, while subject to two bail orders.
Bruce, 38, of St Mary Street, Arbroath, had originally appeared on indictment in relation to the incident, but the case was reduced to a summary complaint.
Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said the accused had been residing at the property on an on-off basis, but after the occupant was good enough to allow him to stay there he had smashed a window to get in after finding himself without any keys.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie told the court Bruce is currently serving a sentence of just under a year and is scheduled to be released on Christmas Eve.
“On his release from prison he intends to change his ways and presents better than he did for a long time there is a long-standing battle with drink and drugs.”
Mr Rennie added: “He worked in the oil industry very successfully but suffered significant injuries to his hips and unfortunately self-medicated on heroin.
Sheriff Di Emidio deferred sentence on Bruce for six months for good behaviour and to gather the £150 to pay for the broken window.
Also at Forfar. Mark Bradley, 22, of Newton Crescent, Arbroath, received a six-month community payback order, including 40 hours of unpaid work.
He had admitted assaulting a woman at Keptie Road, Arbroath, on October 3 by pushing her on the body and causing her to fall.
James Torrie, 40, of Ravensby Road, Carnoustie, had sentence deferred for reports until December 3 after admitting harassing two females by following, texting and confronting them between June and September and breaching bail by attempting to contact one of them.
Sheriff Di Emidio said: “I am giving him one more chance for reports to be completed, or I will put him somewhere social workers can get in touch with him.”