Man accused of assaulting another man 'to danger of his life' appears in court

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 11th Dec 2023
Last updated 11th Dec 2023

A 39-year-old man's appeared in court charged with assaulting another man in Galashiels - to his severe injury, and to the danger of his life.

Darren Crawford is alleged to have committed the offence in the town's Kenilworth Avenue on March the 4th this year.

He is accused of repeatedly punching and kicking Sam Finlayson on the head; pursuing him and repeatedly punching him on the head - causing him to fall to the ground; and thereafter repeatedly kicking him on the head and body.

Crawford - whose address was given as Summerfield, Earlston - is also charged with breaching a court order preventing him from entering Galashiels or approaching Mr Finlayson.

He pled not guilty to all three charges when he appeared via a video link at Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Monday).

A trial date was set for May the 17th next year.

Home curfew

A 21-year-old man has been told he's lucky not to be facing a murder charge after knocking a man unconscious with a single punch - to his permanent disfigurement and danger of his life.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Robert Ashe - who's address was given as Westloch Farm, Edinburgh - assaulted his victim at The Valley in Selkirk on November the 21st last year, after he allegedly "laid hands" on his father.

He's been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and given a six month home curfew, which means he can't leave his address between eight at night and six in the morning.

Bit police officer

A 27-year-old man has admitted assaulting two female police officers in Galashiels.

Dale Henry, also known as Dale Grattan, punched one on the head and bit another on the body during the attack, in the town's Channel Street, in May (29th).

Sentence has been deferred until next month for background reports.

Absolute discharge

A 34-year-old woman who assaulted a 14-year-old girl she was told had been bullying her daughter at school in Galashiels has been given an absolute discharge at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Claire Gibson grabbed the girl by the hair and pulled her to the ground during the confrontation in the town's Kenilworth Avenue in August.

But the court heard the single mum had been provoked and no longer lives in the area.

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