Latest news with #CommunityPaybackOrder
Press and Journal
01-08-2025
- Press and Journal
Aberdeenshire gardener with 'anger issues' admits domestic abuse
A north-east gardener has been placed under supervision after admitting one charge of domestic abuse. Robert Brown, 53, who runs a grass-cutting business in Aberdeenshire, admitted causing injury to his partner following an argument earlier this year. Brown admitted pushing and pulling her to the body, and grabbing her neck -although only with one hand 'accidentally'. Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Brown and his victim had been in a long-term relationship when the offence took place earlier this year at an address in Portlethen. Fiscal depute Anne MacDonald told the court an argument had broken out between the pair, which turned physical. Ms MacDonald explained that the couple had been arguing across the length of a desk, and at one point Brown swiped his hand, causing a paper tray to fall to the floor. She said: 'It ended up striking the complainer on the hand. 'The argument continued, and both parties were shouting. 'The accused wanted to leave, but the complainer got in his way accidentally. 'At this stage he stuck his hand out and it has been agreed that the accused touched the complainer's neck – holding her throat by way of pushing past her. 'But not grabbing her with two hands – it was just to get past her.' Brown told police: 'There was no punching; she slapped me.' Brown pleaded guilty to an amended charge wherein charges of him additionally throwing household items at her were dropped. Brown's defence agent, Stuart Flowerdew said: 'He accepts he has anger issues. 'As a result of that, he has discussed carrying out the Caledonian Programme if appropriate. 'He wants to do something to address this.' Mr Flowerdew went on to say the situation was 'complicated' as the couple still ran a business together. Sheriff Ian Duguid said he thought the Caledonian Programme would not be suitable in this case as it would take 24 months to complete. He said: 'I will make a Community Payback Order instead with 12 months supervision.' Brown, of Menzies Road, Aberdeen, stood in the dock shaking his head as the sentence was delivered. Sheriff Duguid said this supervision order was a direct alternative to a fine and did not impose a non-harassment order towards the complainer.
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Man sentenced for coating pheasant carcasses in rat poison over feud
He hoped that his actions would cause reputational damage to the landowner's country estate. Burgoyne was given the Community Payback Order at Forfar Sheriff Court after he admitted a breach of wildlife legislation between January and February 2023. Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'It is highly important to preserve Scotland's natural heritage, including the wildlife that forms part of it. As such, wild birds are given strict protection by our law. READ MORE: 'Clive Burgoyne's reckless actions put various wildlife, particularly birds of prey, at risk of injury and death. 'COPFS takes offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act seriously and will prosecute individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so. 'The result in this case is a testament to the collaborative working between COPFS, Police Scotland, and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA), who in this case were able to provide vital forensic evidence.' Prosecutors told how witnesses saw Burgoyne in the front passenger seat of a car travelling towards, and later away, from the Guynd estate near Arbroath on the morning of February 3, 2023. A short time later, an estate worker discovered a dead pheasant on a footpath within the estate. The dead pheasants had clearly been left out in the open to attract non-target species such as birds of prey (Image: COPFS) The breast had been removed and the bird was covered in a quantity of grain and seed which was then coated in a bright blue liquid. A further search of the area revealed three more dead pheasants nearby which had been similarly cut open and treated. Analysis carried out by officials at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture confirmed the blue grain was an anticoagulant rodenticide formulation containing the active ingredient difenacoum. They believed the appearance of the pheasant carcases suggested they had been prepared and set out with the intention of causing harm to birds. Difenacoum is highly toxic to birds and if consumed causes haemorrhaging. A single feed from a baited carcass would prove fatal to a raptor. The court heard that the dead pheasants had clearly been left out in the open to attract non-target species such as birds of prey. After being arrested, a sample of Burgoyne's DNA was found on all four of the dead birds.
Press and Journal
09-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen domestic abuser who drove car at ex-girlfriend ignored court order
An Aberdeen domestic abuser has been given more community service after breaching a court order not to contact his victim. Jordan MacDonald had been given a non-harassment order banning him from contact with his ex-partner. MacDonald, 25, previously admitted acting in a threatening and abusive manner towards the woman and one of her friends during an incident on Aberdeen's Beach Boulevard in 2023. Macdonald was convicted of driving his car towards the woman, who was narrowly pulled to safety by her friend. Speaking to the Press and Journal, she said: 'I froze, my friend had to drag me out of the way. 'He tried to run me over – it's been terrifying.' For the offence of driving the car at the woman and of carrying out domestic abuse towards her in a three-month period of the same year, MacDonald was given a Community Payback Order as a direct alternative to custody. The charges states MacDonald drove his car 'at speed' and close to where his ex-partner and her friend were standing – placing them in a state of fear and alarm. Then, on various occasions on streets around Aberdeen, he repeatedly drove his car slowly past her, shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence towards her. For this, he was placed under supervision for 12 months and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last week, MacDonald was found guilty of breaching a bail order by contacting the woman in September last year – while awaiting the trial for the Beach Boulevard offence. For that MacDonald, of Auskerry Avenue, Aberdeen, was given 100 more hours of unpaid work, which he must carry out within 12 months. MacDonald is currently being investigated over allegations he tried to make contact with his ex-partner again. She said: 'It's made me really angry, he basically got away with it. 'I've told the police, but I don't think they have found him yet.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We received a report of a non-harassment order being breached and enquiries are ongoing.'
