Whithorn youths jailed

TWO Whithorn youths were sentenced to jail this week - one for damaging a holidaymaker's car and the other for abusing police officers.
The court heard that Calvyn Alexander (20) of Greencroft, who is currently serving a period of custody, and pal James Jolly (18) of Isle Street had been seen by a witness who was woken by banging noises on September 9th.
Fiscal depute Kay Jardine said that the witness got out of bed and looked out of the window at around 12.15am to see the two accused walking down St John Street.
"Jolly then lifted up a cast iron drain cover from the street and threw it at a parked vehicle," said Miss Jardine.
"It rebounded and landed on the pavement so he did it again and it smashed a window."
She added that the vehicle belonged to an 82-year old man who was in the area on holiday.
The incident was then reported to police who traced Alexander and Jolly to Newton Stewart. Whilst at the police station there, Alexander began to issue personal threats to police officers, telling them he would "do them in" when he got them on their own and that he would "nut them".
Defending Alexander, lawyer Ian Milligan said his client was a family-oriented man and that his court appearances are draining for his mother, so she no longer attends.
Similarly, lawyer Murray Robertson said his client Jolly was placing himself and his "long-suffering mother" in a difficult position with his court appearances. He added that most of Jolly's offending behaviour stems from his alcohol intake.
Alexander was sentenced to one month in detention and Jolly received two months, backdated to September 10th.

Ten months inside

A YOUNG Stranraer man was jailed for 10 months on Tuesday after a series of assaults on police officers and young women.
Keith Whorlow (17) who is currently serving a sentence of detention, admitted punching and kicking two women and headbutting a police constable.
The court was told that at around 7.30pm on November 7th last year at John Simpson Drive, Whorlow became involved in a struggle between Amy Ironside and Shona McGeoch and was seen to punch one, who then staggered backwards.
He then punched the second girl who fell to the ground, said fiscal depute Kay Jardine.
"Whorlow then walked off shouting, 'I'm not scared of the McGeochs, I'm going to kill your fathers and your boyfriends and bomb your house'."
In a separate charge, the court was told how at 9.30pm on August 13th this year at Ashwood Drive, Stranraer Whorlow had broken bail conditions by visiting his parents.
"They arrived to see Whorlow leave the house via the back door and as the officers caught up with him, he began to struggle and punched one in the face," said Miss Jardine.
She went on to say that CS spray had to be used to calm Whorlow down but that when his family became involved, Whorlow headbutted another officer on the face and that further police assistance had to be called for.
One officer suACAstained a two-centimetre cut to his lip and swelling and soreness, while the other suffered a swollen lip and cheek.
Defending, Paul Feeney said that Whorlow had been defending his girlfriend who had been bullied by the two girls involved in the charge.
"My client would like the opportunity to show the court that he can undergo community service as an alternative to custody and is willing to do so," said Mr Feeney.
But Sheriff Tom Millar said that Whorlow had been given chance after chance to avoid custody and hadn't taken them

Cousins jailed

TWO cousins were sentenced in court this week after an evening of drink-fuelled violence and abuse.
Janet Marshall (22) of John Simpson Avenue, Stranraer was given a deferred sentence to be of good behaviour but cousin Colin Marshall (19) of Murrayfield Avenue in the town was jailed for three months after they both admitted a string of offences, which occurred after the pair had been drinking in Janet Marshall's house on August 8th.
Depute fiscal Kay Jardine told the court that a 15-year old girl had been in Janet Marshall's home with her and her cousin drinking alcohol when an argument broke out between the two females.
"The complainer left the house but returned at around 10pm to clear the air with Marshall," said Miss Jardine.
"Janet and Colin Marshall both came out of the house when the girl knocked on the door and Janet ran at the girl, grabbed her and punched her on the face and head."
Miss Jardine went on to say that while others tried to intercede, Colin Marshall began shouting, "I'm one of the hardest men and I'm not feared to put you 12 feet under. Do you think I wouldn't fuc**ng stab you?"
The disturbance was heard by surrounding neighbours, one of whom peered from behind his curtain as the fracas continued on the street.
When Colin Marshall saw the man in his house, he began shouting towards him, "I'm going to kill you, you Irish bas***ds, and your neighbours."
Marshall then made his way into the man's garden and knocked on his door. When he opened it, he saw Marshall was brandishing a knife and challenging him to a fight.
"He tried to close the door but Colin Marshall stopped him and said to him, 'If you want trouble, I'll give you trouble,'" said Miss Jardine.
"The neighbour finally managed to close the door and contact police, who arrived on the scene and were met with abuse being directed towards them from Janet Marshall."
She began shouting and swearing at the officers, who warned her to behave but she continued to shout abuse and was soon arrested.
Miss Jardine said the young girl had suffered swelling to her left cheek and eye.
Lawyer Ian Milligan said that Colin Marshall's action "weren't very logical" as half of his family are Irish.

Young driver banned

A NINETEEN-year old motorist lost his driving licence on Tuesday after performing an undertaking manoeuvre in Stranraer town centre.
Craig Wilson, of Kirkclauchline Farm, Stoneykirk also narrowly avoided hitting a parked car during the incident on Charlotte Street on May 23rd.
Fiscal depute Kay Jardine told the court how Wilson had been spotted on the town's CCTV cameras at 9.30pm driving erratically before being spotted again at 10pm committing the offence for which he was in court.
She added: "Having almost collided with a parked car, Wilson then had to force himself back into a queue of traffic, which had to brake hard to let him in."
Lawyer Monique Nicholson said that Wilson, a trainee bar manager, was a man of good character who had made an error of judgement.
As WIlson already had three live points on his licence, he faced disqualification under the new drivers legislation (an immediate ban after six points in the first two years of holding a full licence) and Sheriff Tom Millar imposed a further six points whilst fining Wilson £100.

Admitted having cocaine

A STRANRAER man had his sentence deferred for reports this week after admitting being in possession of cocaine.
Derek Hine (23) of Cairnhandy Farmhouse, Stoneykirk admitting having the illegal drug at Stranraer Police Station on October 22nd last year.
He will be sentenced on October 30th.

Has CS spray in car

A POLISH man whose car was searched at Stranraer's Stena terminal in July was found with a CS spray cannister and an extendable baton.
The court heard on Tuesday that Lukasz Jodlowski (22) who lives in Dungannon, Northern Ireland was searched as part of standard checks as he boarded the ferry to Belfast on July 31st when a sniffer dog detected the spray in the driver's door pocket.
Margot Nicol, defending, said that Jodlowski, a crane operator, had travelled with the items after a friend was attacked in his car in Germany, and he feared the same thing happening to him.
Sheriff Tom Millar imposed 160 hours community service and told the accused: "These offences would normally warrant someone going to prison but you didn't realise the seriousness of this in our country."

Jail for sneak motorist

A DISQUALIFIED driver who was caught towing a caravan in August was jailed for four months this week.
Police followed a car driven by Martin Maloney (20) who is from Crawley is West Sussex as it drove along Port Rodie in Stranraer at 2.30pm.
As part of a routine patrol, the officers approached the vehicle after it pulled over and conducted some checks, which revealed Maloney to be a disqualified driver.
His car also contained a pick-axe handle.
Paul Feeney, defending, said that Maloney was part of the travelling community and was due to have his licence returned to him on October 10th this year following a two-year ban, also put in place after he was caught driving whilst disqualified.
Sheriff Tom Millar said that as this was actually Maloney's third time being disqualified, it also warranted a period of imprisonment and sent Maloney away for four months. The sentence was backdated to August 15th, when he was first arrested and Maloney was also given a five-year ban.

Community service for brawlers

THREE Stranraer men appeared in court on Tuesday charged with assaults and breaches of the peace.
Edward McVeigh (20), Malcolm Rees (30) and Ally Smith (18), all from Mount Vernon Road in the town, were given community service for their part in the fracas outside the town's Break 22 pub.
The court was told that at 9.30pm on April 28th, an employee was removing McVeigh and Smith from the premises after a disagreement broke out when Rees met them on their way out and became aggressive towards the employee.
Kay Jardine, depute fiscal, said that there followed a struggle in which another man was assaulted "for no apparent reason" and required treatment for an injury to his head. He was released from hospital the following day.
McVeigh received 120 hours community service, Rees 80 hours and Smith 120 hours.

Drove faulty motorbike

A MAN who drove a motorbike with a faulty tyre, no insurance and no licence was fined £150 this week.
Jonathan Carlisle (24) of Coronation Drive, Stranraer was also given six points on his licence for driving the bike on John Simpson Drive back in June.
Lawyer Murray Robertson said that Carlisle had bought the bike with the intention of "doing it up" while he tried to get his driving licence and been trying it out at the time.

Jail for bail breacher

A YOUNG man who broke bail conditions imposed by the High Court after a charge of attempted murder was jailed on Tuesday.
Callum Kyle (17) of Shawfield, Stranraer was placed under a restriction of liberty order in February after the charge, which was designed to keep him indoors between the hours of 7pm and 7am.
But on August 31st, Kyle was spotted at 11.30pm having gone out for a drink.
Lawyer Murray Robertson said his client had become depressed due to the charges hanging over his head and also after the news that his mother had been placed on a methadone programme, so had gone out for a drink to unwind.
Sheriff Tom Millar said this was a serious matter which required a jail term, and sentenced Kyle to two months in detention.

Denies assault

A NIGHTCLUB assault was denied by a Stranraer woman this week as she appeared in the town's court.
Andrea Kyle (40) of Shawfield plead not guilty to attacking Robert McDowall by striking him on the head with a bottle and repeatedly punching him on the head to his injury.
The assault is said to have taken place on August 4th inside The Venue Nightclub.
Kyle will stand trial on December 19th.

Denies driving charges

A WIGTOWN man denied three driving charges on Tuesday.
David Bark (22) of Beddie Crescent faces charges of driving on the A714 between Wigtown and Girvan with no licence, no insurance and a car with no MOT certificate on July 10th.
Bark will stand trial on December 19th.

Man facing drug supply charges

A MAN plead not guilty to being concerned in the supply of drugs in Stranraer this week.
David Palmer (32) of John Simpson Drive denies supplying cannabis to others between February 1st and March 29th this year.
He will stand trial on December 17th.