Ayr Sheriff Court has heard a series of cases involving assaults, theft allegations and drug production, according to a weekly round-up published by the Ayr Advertiser.
The cases covered courts in Ayr and Kilmarnock, with several matters involving people from across Ayrshire. The reported outcomes included prison sentences, compensation, guilty pleas and one not-guilty verdict.
Assaults and compensation
Craig Lucas was ordered to pay £3,000 compensation after punching a taxi driver following a fare dispute. The report said Lucas got out of the taxi and was “dancing about like a dafty” before punching the driver and knocking him to the ground, causing severe injuries.
Lucas returned to court on Monday, September 14, after previously pleading guilty to assault to severe injury.
In another case, Jordan Dewar pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman at Whiteleys Retreat. The woman was injured when Dewar grabbed her by the neck, and the charge was aggravated by abuse of a partner or ex-partner.
Dewar was reported to be back in custody after previously being jailed for slashing a shopkeeper.
Reece Wylie was jailed after attacking his girlfriend during a drunken assault in front of young children. He had been drinking Buckfast and pleaded guilty to assault and threatening or abusive behaviour at an earlier pre-trial hearing.
Alleged theft and drug production
William Anderson was reported to have stolen three bottles of alcohol from an Asda store in Ardrossan. When three employees confronted him and asked him to return the alcohol, he pulled a knife on the staff, according to the report.
Vilson Gjinaj, described as an Albanian cannabis farmer, was jailed after being found “trapped” inside a cannabis cultivation in Saltcoats valued at nearly £1 million. Gjinaj claimed he “did not know” he was involved in producing the drug, but Sheriff Murdoch Mactaggart rejected that explanation.
The cases were included in a round-up of proceedings reported by Ayrshire Weekly Press titles, rather than a single hearing involving all of the accused.
Not-guilty verdict and other court cases
Thomas McNeillie, from Dalrymple, was found not guilty of a charge alleging that he intentionally caused a 12-year-old boy to look at a sexual image at a South Ayrshire secondary school. The school was named in the complaint, according to the report.
Jack Hendry, from Dalry, appeared in court over an allegation that he attempted to steal a vehicle on a trailer in Dailly while acting with others. He also faced other driving offences and admitted attempting to steal the car, the report said.
The court coverage provides a snapshot of cases heard at Ayr and Kilmarnock sheriff courts during the week covered by the Ayr Advertiser.
