Courts across Tayside and Fife, including Perth Sheriff Court, continue to uphold the law and ensure public safety by addressing a range of significant incidents. Recent proceedings have seen individuals held accountable for actions spanning from public endangerment to serious assaults and disturbing online offences, reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to community well-being in regions like Perth and Kinross.
In a case heard at Perth Sheriff Court, *Scott Lowe*, 57, from Kinross, received a £750 fine following an alarming incident where he confronted police officers with a bow and arrow. The court was informed that Mr. Lowe, who used the weapon for target practice in his expansive 60-metre back garden, had called emergency services for an unrelated matter. However, while under the influence of alcohol and medication, he emerged from his property wielding the bow, shouting: ‘Who’s got a bow and arrow?’ While the bow was unstrung and not pointed at anyone, defence solicitor Jamie Baxter highlighted that Mr. Lowe had not used the weapon for years and could not explain his actions, attributing them to his intoxicated state while on medication. Sheriff William Wood acknowledged that the situation could have been far more serious had the bow been loaded, treating the incident as an isolated ‘blip’ but emphasizing the potential for public fear when such items are displayed aggressively. The Sheriff underscored the importance of public perception and safety, particularly when a weapon, even if not immediately functional, is brandished in a threatening manner. Mr. Lowe admitted to acting in a threatening or abusive manner on January 9 this year.
A deeply impactful case from Dundee involved a student, Conor Mockler, who sustained a life-threatening brain injury following an unprovoked attack by *Keiran Rae*, 25, after Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival in May 2023. Mr. Mockler and a friend were targeted by Rae in Lochee as they returned home. Rae has since been handed a substantial sentence exceeding seven years for what the court described as ‘utter cowardice and brutality.’ Despite the horrific ordeal, Mr. Mockler displayed remarkable empathy upon learning of his attacker’s personal background during court proceedings. He expressed a poignant sentiment, stating: ‘Everyone is deserving of a bit of humanity. Just because he didn’t show it to me on that night doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve it.’ This case highlights the profound human impact of violent crime and the complex paths towards justice and healing within communities.
In another case brought before Dundee Sheriff Court, *Scott Leonard*, 39, was placed on the sex offenders register for three years after admitting to possessing abhorrent child abuse images. Officers, acting on intelligence, attended Leonard’s one-bedroom council flat on Eliza Street, where they seized his Samsung phone. Despite having been deleted, evidence of five twisted images was recovered. Prosecutor Ronnie Hay detailed that two of these images were of the most graphic nature. Sheriff Gregor Murray mandated Leonard to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within a year and imposed a series of conduct requirements as part of a supervision order. This first-time offender’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals within the digital sphere.
Meanwhile, in Broughty Ferry, *Josh McLean*, 36, faced Dundee Sheriff Court to answer for a terrifying series of threatening offences against his former partner. Described as an ‘ex-boyfriend-from-hell,’ McLean repeatedly threatened to detonate his ex-partner’s car over the course of a week. The culmination of his menacing behaviour saw him appear at a Broughty Ferry bar wearing a pink balaclava, an act designed to instil fear. This case underscores the pervasive nature of domestic-related threats and the court’s intervention to protect individuals from harassment and intimidation, ensuring personal safety and peace of mind in local areas.
Further afield in Fife, a teenager was disciplined for assaulting a police officer. *Aiden Spencer*, 18, of Beurard, Leven, was sentenced at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to four charges, including twice punching a male police constable in the face and spitting at a female constable. Prior to this, on June 20, he assaulted a woman by striking her repeatedly with a bag containing a can and sugar. Despite being a first-time offender, Sheriff Derek Hamilton highlighted the gravity of assaulting emergency service personnel, stating: ‘Significantly… your first folly with the criminal courts involves punching a police officer to the face and spitting at a police officer.’ The Sheriff warned Spencer that such actions typically lead to custodial sentences, though given his lack of prior convictions, he was spared immediate imprisonment. Instead, Spencer was given a two-month electronic curfew, 80 hours of unpaid work, and a year of offender supervision as part of a community payback order. Defence lawyer David Cranston indicated that staying away from alcohol and remaining occupied could prevent future court appearances for Spencer, reflecting the court’s aim for rehabilitation alongside punishment.
These recent court proceedings from Dundee and Fife illustrate the continuous efforts of the justice system to address various forms of crime, from public disturbances and violent assaults to online child abuse and domestic threats. For residents of Perth and Kinross, these cases collectively highlight the ongoing work to maintain law and order, ensuring the safety and security of communities across the broader Tayside and Fife region.
In a case heard at Perth Sheriff Court, *Scott Lowe*, 57, from Kinross, received a £750 fine following an alarming incident where he confronted police officers with a bow and arrow. The court was informed that Mr. Lowe, who used the weapon for target practice in his expansive 60-metre back garden, had called emergency services for an unrelated matter. However, while under the influence of alcohol and medication, he emerged from his property wielding the bow, shouting: ‘Who’s got a bow and arrow?’ While the bow was unstrung and not pointed at anyone, defence solicitor Jamie Baxter highlighted that Mr. Lowe had not used the weapon for years and could not explain his actions, attributing them to his intoxicated state while on medication. Sheriff William Wood acknowledged that the situation could have been far more serious had the bow been loaded, treating the incident as an isolated ‘blip’ but emphasizing the potential for public fear when such items are displayed aggressively. The Sheriff underscored the importance of public perception and safety, particularly when a weapon, even if not immediately functional, is brandished in a threatening manner. Mr. Lowe admitted to acting in a threatening or abusive manner on January 9 this year.
A deeply impactful case from Dundee involved a student, Conor Mockler, who sustained a life-threatening brain injury following an unprovoked attack by *Keiran Rae*, 25, after Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival in May 2023. Mr. Mockler and a friend were targeted by Rae in Lochee as they returned home. Rae has since been handed a substantial sentence exceeding seven years for what the court described as ‘utter cowardice and brutality.’ Despite the horrific ordeal, Mr. Mockler displayed remarkable empathy upon learning of his attacker’s personal background during court proceedings. He expressed a poignant sentiment, stating: ‘Everyone is deserving of a bit of humanity. Just because he didn’t show it to me on that night doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve it.’ This case highlights the profound human impact of violent crime and the complex paths towards justice and healing within communities.
In another case brought before Dundee Sheriff Court, *Scott Leonard*, 39, was placed on the sex offenders register for three years after admitting to possessing abhorrent child abuse images. Officers, acting on intelligence, attended Leonard’s one-bedroom council flat on Eliza Street, where they seized his Samsung phone. Despite having been deleted, evidence of five twisted images was recovered. Prosecutor Ronnie Hay detailed that two of these images were of the most graphic nature. Sheriff Gregor Murray mandated Leonard to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within a year and imposed a series of conduct requirements as part of a supervision order. This first-time offender’s sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals within the digital sphere.
Meanwhile, in Broughty Ferry, *Josh McLean*, 36, faced Dundee Sheriff Court to answer for a terrifying series of threatening offences against his former partner. Described as an ‘ex-boyfriend-from-hell,’ McLean repeatedly threatened to detonate his ex-partner’s car over the course of a week. The culmination of his menacing behaviour saw him appear at a Broughty Ferry bar wearing a pink balaclava, an act designed to instil fear. This case underscores the pervasive nature of domestic-related threats and the court’s intervention to protect individuals from harassment and intimidation, ensuring personal safety and peace of mind in local areas.
Further afield in Fife, a teenager was disciplined for assaulting a police officer. *Aiden Spencer*, 18, of Beurard, Leven, was sentenced at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to four charges, including twice punching a male police constable in the face and spitting at a female constable. Prior to this, on June 20, he assaulted a woman by striking her repeatedly with a bag containing a can and sugar. Despite being a first-time offender, Sheriff Derek Hamilton highlighted the gravity of assaulting emergency service personnel, stating: ‘Significantly… your first folly with the criminal courts involves punching a police officer to the face and spitting at a police officer.’ The Sheriff warned Spencer that such actions typically lead to custodial sentences, though given his lack of prior convictions, he was spared immediate imprisonment. Instead, Spencer was given a two-month electronic curfew, 80 hours of unpaid work, and a year of offender supervision as part of a community payback order. Defence lawyer David Cranston indicated that staying away from alcohol and remaining occupied could prevent future court appearances for Spencer, reflecting the court’s aim for rehabilitation alongside punishment.
These recent court proceedings from Dundee and Fife illustrate the continuous efforts of the justice system to address various forms of crime, from public disturbances and violent assaults to online child abuse and domestic threats. For residents of Perth and Kinross, these cases collectively highlight the ongoing work to maintain law and order, ensuring the safety and security of communities across the broader Tayside and Fife region.