Latest news with #DumbartonSheriffCourt
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Man jailed over terrifying Clydebank fireworks van attack
The "terrifying" explosions in the early hours of a Sunday in February forced neighbours to evacuate in dramatic footage. Connor Steele wilfully set the fire - then shouted his address. His solicitor said his client didn't know about the large number of fireworks inside. The children of a 29-year-old and another man had been involved in an "ongoing feud" and fighting in Clydebank. Around 12.38am on Sunday, February 23, Steele left his home in Onslow Road and walked south to a property in Braes Avenue, Whitecrook. At 12.55am he started a verbal argument with the other man, whose van was parked in the driveway next to the property. Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard it was a derelict Ford Transit van with no engine. Steele then approached the van, threw an unknown accelerant onto the passenger seat, and ran off. He yelled: "I live at Onslow Road!" Neighbours saw the blaze and called the fire service and police. The van had a large amount of fireworks inside that started to go off. Video from that night shows the loud explosions shooting out from the site. The van was "completely engulfed in flames". A majority of neighbours were evacuated because of safety concerns, the court heard. Despite Steele announcing where he lived, police were unable to trace him initially and there was an eventual appeal for witnesses. Fireworks were captured exploding from van. (Image: Clydebank East Community Council) (Image: Clydebank East Community Council) On February 25, around 3.30pm, officers forced entry and found him hiding under the covers of a bed. Steele, sitting in the dock, interrupted fiscal Euan Nicholson and said: "I wasn't hiding." When police arrested him, he became aggressive, shouting and swearing, making remarks including "you're both little p**fs", "bunch of gay boys" and "f**gots". Appearing from custody on August 5, he pleaded guilty to wilfully setting the fire while on bail, and to his behaviour towards police, aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation. After his arrest, Steele was put on a curfew, which he broke twice. Defence solicitor Luke O'Curry said the two disputing men were "somewhat birds of a feather". "[Steele] didn't know he was illegally storing fireworks in the back [of the van]," he said. "He has not meted personal violence [on the man]. "He has sought to establish his standing in the argument." Mr O'Curry said his client kept himself to himself in Greenock Prison at the moment as the feud is continuing there. Steele had been making progress on a previous community payback order. Sheriff John McElroy KC said: "He has taken himself right back into difficulty by virtue of February 23." Mr O'Curry said: "It's not a matter of personal violence or behind the back of the householder or when the householder was sleeping. It was done in front of him. "The two of them were arguing when he walked to the derelict vehicle and threw accelerant and gave his address." Sheriff McElroy jailed him for 23 months. He said: "It's very unfortunate you found yourself in this situation because you had been making significant progress. "I'm hoping when you finish this sentence, you put these things behind you and there's progress to be made in the future." At the time of the attack, a Clydebank East Community Council spokesperson, described the scene as "terrifying". She said: "Disgusting behaviour in Braes Avenue, Whitecrook in the early hours. "A van was deliberately set on fire while containing boxes of fireworks with absolutely no regard for the kids living in these houses. "I've never witnessed anything like it kids screaming in sheer terror absolutely awful. "Thankfully everyone is safe."
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Clydebank man sent indecent messages to undercover cops
Andrew Beadle pleaded guilty to causing the three Police Scotland officers to view sexual communications and images in 2024. The 46-year-old admitted the first was between February 27 and March 5, and on June 28. The second between October 2 and 8. And the third was on October 8. READ NEXT: 3 suspects accused of murder of man in Glasgow 20 years ago READ NEXT: 5 people to stand trial accused of holding a man hostage at gunpoint Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard how the first officer was online when they received a message from Beadle, of Clyde Court, Dalmuir. They said they were a 13-year-old girl and the man sent an image of a penis. He asked for sexual images of herself, which the officer declined. The indecent messages continued and he sent four images of an erect penis and video of a man masturbating. In October, the second officer was pretending to be a 12-year-old girl. Beadle sent her sexual and indecent messages and two still images of genitals. The third officer also pretended to be a 12-year-old girl, and the man acknowledged her age. He sent two images of a penis and a video of two adults having sex. When he was arrested, he admitted sending images but "maintained he believed he was not communicating with children", heard the court. Defence solicitor Kenny McGowan said it was "certainly a matter of some gravity" and his client understood the process required of being registered as a sex offender. The Crown said they were applying for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with eight conditions to monitor him. Sheriff John McElroy KC deferred sentence until September 8 for reports to be prepared. He said: "You don't need me to tell you you pleaded guilty to disgraceful offences. Be under no illusion you have a record and you know what's on your record. "There are two previous direct alternatives to custody. All options are available to me in terms of your offending here." Beadle was put on the sex offenders register in the interim.
Glasgow Times
15-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Clydebank man possessing knife was wearing body armour
Thomas Gallagher was drinking in the company of a pregnant woman at a property in Second Avenue when he started calling her "the devil". The 39-year-old was shouting and acting aggressively. The woman was distressed and left while barefoot, Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told. A witness saw her and could hear her crying. Another neighbour heard Gallagher threatening to "murder" her and "I hope you die". Around 1.10am, police arrived. The man answered the door, intoxicated, and started threatening officers. He was repeatedly reminded they were there to check on the welfare of everyone there. READ MORE: Drug dealer caught as phone lights up with WhatsApp texts during police search Fiscal depute Euan Nicholson said the man continued to threaten to fight officers and "said he had body armour". As additional police arrived, he then opened his tracksuit top and showed his armour and a knife in the front pouch. Gallagher, listed in court papers as a prisoner at Low Moss, also had a knuckleduster in his right trouser pocket. Police had to deploy PAVA spray to his face. He pleaded guilty in June to shouting, swearing, uttering threats and making derogatory remarks towards his partner at a property on February 8 this year. It was aggravated by being against a partner or ex. He further shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence and made homophobic remarks to two police officers. This was aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation. And he admitted having a knife and having a knuckleduster. READ MORE: Former cop caught driving while disqualified after crash The Crown accepted last month that he did not shoot a crossbow at a veranda door at Orbiston Place on May 18 and 19, 2024. At sentencing on July 8, his defence solicitor said it was an "extremely frightening incident". "He is apologetic about his behaviour on the night in question," he said. There was not just alcohol in his client's system, but a "cocktail" that "acted as a catalyst for his behaviour". He accepted Gallagher had a lengthy record, including for past offences of violence. But he said the last one was 10 years ago. Because he had been locked up for about five months, under automatic early release, that was a 10-month sentence, explained the solicitor. Sheriff Robert Carr said: "This was an incident involving appalling behaviour on your partner. "You have a bad record. There is no alternative to a custodial sentence." He jailed Gallagher for 10 months, backdated to February 10.
Glasgow Times
12-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Alexandria man pleads guilty to having knife in Dumbarton
Jordan Daldry appeared from custody last week and pleaded guilty to having a knife in the Dumbarton Lidl and the town's High Street. He was led into the dock seemingly without apparent injury and the circumstances of his fall were not revealed. Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard that around 5.30pm on July 31, 2024, he and a woman entered the Lidl. And after a short period of time, she passed a knife to Daldry. They left the shop and police were contacted. Daldry was spotted on CCTV outside the Morrisons Daily, which is where officers found him just before 6pm. He was searched and a silver knife with a black handle was found in his waistband. The 28-year-old, of Munro Street, Alexandria, pleaded guilty on July 8 to having the weapon. He previously repeatedly broke a non-harassment order (NHO) not to approach or contact his ex. And after each breach, he was released on bail and did it again. READ MORE: Former cop caught driving while disqualified after crash Daldry was handed the NHO in December 2022, banning any contact from his ex. He has repeatedly broken that. On November 20 last year, at the West Dunbartonshire Council headquarters next to the court, he arrived with the woman. That was reported to police. Nine days later, police were told they were together again and forced their entry to a property. They saw Daldry trying to escape. On January 9 this year, police attended a property in Dumbarton, forcing their way in and discovering him with the woman. He had two bail orders from October and December 2024 at the time. On February 20 this year, at various Dumbarton streets and outside a primary school, he broke the NHO again and shouted at the woman. It was the school's headteacher who reported Daldry's behaviour. He had three bail orders from a month earlier. READ MORE: Drug dealer caught as phone lights up with WhatsApp texts during police search Daldry's offences were aggravated by being against a partner or ex. Breaking bail orders were also separate charges. Sheriff Robert Carr identified a "pattern of behaviour" where the woman was "voluntarily" placing herself in situations where she and Daldry communicated with each other. His defence solicitor said the NHO was imposed by the court, but the former partner had not wanted it. There had been no formal request to lift the NHO. "He appreciates it's there for a reason, notwithstanding the views of the complainer," said the solicitor of his client. He said of the knife charge, his client "should have declined" when the woman passed him the blade. Daldry was placed on a structured deferred sentence previously. "It did not start well, and deteriorated," said the solicitor. "He jumped from a seventh-floor window." That resulted in injuries including three fractures to his back and his elbow. Daldry had already served some time locked up over the charges. Sheriff Carr sentenced him to a further four months in jail over the knife. He was admonished for the NHO breaches.
Glasgow Times
27-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Woman offered to lick police officer's privates
The drunk 54-year-old jumped on one officer's back and bit her, spat at another and then made the sexualised comment while standing in Clydebank police office. Shona McPhail was with a man in Red Moss Road, Clydebank, after being spoken to by officers in an unrelated incident. READ NEXT: Former Catholic priest admits repeated abuse of boy more than 40 years ago READ NEXT: Serious organised crime unit cop sentenced for sexually assaulting colleagues on duty She was shouting and the man told her to sit in his vehicle to stop her from being loud in the street. Police asked her to stop, at which point she turned up the radio to play "extremely loud music". The woman, of Howie Crescent, Rosneath, was informed she was under arrest and an officer tried to lean into the passenger side window to arrest her. "McPhail got out and leapt onto the back of the officer," fiscal depute Mandy Robertson told Dumbarton Sheriff Court. A second officer tried to pull her off, causing them to fall back. The first officer straddled McPhail on the ground, and the woman struck out to their face with an open palm. "She then grabbed the officer's left wrist, dug her nails into her skin, causing abrasions and some skin to come off," said the prosecutor. "I have got germs, bite her," said McPhail. She tried to bite the officer and another officer came to assist. She spat at their left leg. An officer removed their baton and placed a spit hood on McPhail. She was taken to Clydebank police office and while at the charge bar, she tried to get the attention of one of the officers. They refused to engage, so McPhail turned to one of them, looked at the male officer's lower body and then up to their face. "I'll lick your d**k, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" she said. McPhail was asked to stop as it was making him uncomfortable. "But I've seen you on TikTok," she replied. Mrs Robertson said the officer was distressed by the situation. McPhail pleaded guilty in May to assaulting one officer by striking her to the head, seizing her on the arm and digging her fingernails into the arm and trying to bite her. She admitted assaulting a second officer by spitting on his body. And she pleaded guilty to directing a sexual remark at a third officer for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming him. The charge was under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act. The incidents all happened on September 5 last year. At sentencing on June 20, defence solicitor Jonathan Paul said his client was "ashamed of her actions". "She has very little recollection of what happened," he said. "She had drunk a lot of alcohol and was severely intoxicated." Mr Paul said the "root cause" was alcohol abuse, which she felt "can be managed". But she accepted she would have to give it up. Sheriff Sean Lynch said: "What I have heard about is quite frankly disgraceful behaviour and when I take that together with your record, there's no doubt the threshold of custodial sentence is met here." As a direct alternative to custody, she will be supervised by social workers for 12 months. She must also stay within her home from 7pm to 7am for the next four months. Because her comment to the officer was under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act, she had to go on the sex offenders register. Previously, that would mean she was on the sex offenders register for a year. The High Court recently decided it should be five years when a case has more than one aspect of punishment, such as supervision and curfew.
