29-YEAR-OLD THREATENED TO SLASH PARTNER'S THROAT
2019: A HAWICK man who made threats towards his partner has been ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work at Selkirk Sheriff Court.Twenty nine year old Stuart Gallagher of Minto Place, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in Galashiels.
The court heard he turned up at 8.30am at his partner's home when she was signed off her work and adopted an aggressive attitude towards her.
Gallagher told her he would get a knife and slash her throat and that he would stab her brother and slice him in two.
Sheriff Donald Ferguson described it as "vile abuse" which was "totally unacceptable".
In addition to the unpaid work, Gallagher was placed on supervision for 12 months.
2012: A drunken man who attended at Borders General Hospital with a friend had to be handcuffed and restrained after shouting and swearing and refusing to sit in the waiting room.
Stuart Gallagher, whose mother works at the Melrose hospital, had gone there in the early hours of July 10 to offer moral support to an ill friend.
But he refused to move away from the reception desk, and repeatedly shouted and swore, and struggled with police officers as they tried to deal with him.
Twenty-two-year-old Gallagher of Davidson Place, Newtown St Boswells, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the BGH, pictured right, on July 10.
“He went there in the early hours of a Tuesday morning with a friend, who had been admitted by ambulance,” explained Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser.
“He was there as moral support, and was asked to wait in the waiting area, but refused to do so.
“For no apparent reason, he continually refused to move to the waiting area, or to wait outside,” added Mr Fraser.
“A staff nurse, who knew the accused, said she would speak to him and try to calm the situation, and she also asked him to sit in the waiting area, but he began to shout and swear.
“He adopted an aggressive posture, leaning across the reception desk, and the police were called.” Gallagher “tensed his body” as police tried to handcuff him and he then tried to lash out at officers, eventually being taken to the ground.
Defence solicitor Matt Patrick said his client had little recollection of the offence.
“He was drunk,” he explained, “and has no explanation for his behaviour other than his intoxication.
“He was only there to accompany a friend,” added Mr Patrick.
“His mother works at the BGH, so his behaviour has caused her deep embarrassment.” The solicitor said Gallagher had been taking steps to reduce his drinking.
“He says he can become aggressive when he has been drinking, and is making efforts to cut down,” added Mr Patrick.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond deferred sentence until November 19 for reports, warning Gallagher being drunk was no excuse.
“You should know better than anybody that this kind of behaviour at Borders General Hospital is simply not acceptable in the community,” he told Gallagher.
The Sheriff added: “It is no excuse that you were drunk.”
