Court hears man attempted to headbutt police officer after being caught drink-driving
Last updated 3rd Aug 2023
A 37-year-old man who attempted to headbutt a police officer after being caught driving his partner's car without insurance while almost four-times the legal drink-drive limit has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, and banned from the road for three years.
Leon Richardson has also been slapped with a six-month curfew, which means he must remain at his home in Innerleithen between 8pm and 6am following the incident last month.
Selkirk Sheriff Court today (Tuesday) heard the unemployed cleaner was spotted driving erratically on the A72 between Peebles and Innerleithen by an off-duty police officer, who alerted his on-duty colleagues.
Richardson, from an address in Innerleithen, was later seen staggering in the car park of the local Co-op before he attempted to strike the Constable.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Gareth Jones noted his "appalling record" and said the punishment is a direct alternative to custody.
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Meanwhile, in a separate case, the court heard a 22-year-old man who failed to obey a road closed sign ended up colliding with another vehicle - injuring a man.
Lee Aitken was twice the legal drive-drink limit when the incident unfolded on the A7 near Ashkirk on March the 29th last year.
As well as driving dangerously and over the limit, he also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and making abusive remarks.
He further pled guilty to being in possession of cocaine and cannabis at Borders General Hospital the following day.
Sentence has been deferred until next month for background reports, and Aitken - of Wood Street, Galashiels - has been disqualified from driving meantime.
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