Curfew imposed on Hawick man after dog chain attack
A Hawick man who admitted assaulting another man with a metal dog lead chain has been given a night time home curfew for the next eight months.
Jason Lowe, 44, pleaded guilty to charges of assault to injury and breaching his bail conditions.
Prosecutor Chelsea Martin told Jedburgh Sheriff Court that at around 6pm, on April 14, Lowe met a man in Mansfield Road, Hawick. She explained that Lowe approached him and began assaulting him.
“The accused was armed with a dog chain and began hitting him,” she added.
“A passer by who witnessed this contacted the police and the accused left in the direction of Hawick Rugby Club.
“Police attended and noticed the complainer had bruising to his left eye and scratches on his arm.
“The marks on his body were consistent with being hit by a chain like instrument.
“Then accused heard the police were looking for him and attended at Hawick Police Station on April 16 where he was arrested and made no reply after being cautioned and charged.”
Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had experienced a troubled life from a young age with long term difficulties with drug mis-use and addictions.
But he pointed out both of the matters before the court were all that he had outstanding and that he had been of good behaviour for the past seven months.
Mr Hulme explained that Lowe was upset about threatening and abusive comments posted about him by the victim on social media.
He added he had the metal chain because he was walking his dog at the time.
Sheriff Robert Fife referred to Lowe’s “unenviable record” of 137 previous convictions saying it was easier to weigh them than count them.
Lowe was admonished for breaching his bail conditions.
Sheriff Fife also imposed a Restriction of Liberty Order on Lowe, keeping him in his Arthur Street home for the next eight months between the hours of 10pm and 7am.