Peebles man jailed for attacking photographer and stealing £14,000 of camera gear
A Peebles man who attacked and robbed a photographer of £14,000 worth of equipment has been jailed for 14 months.
Thirty-nine-year-old Grant Forrest turned up at the dilapidated studio of renowned textile designer Bernat Klein near Selkirk at the same time as the photographer was about to carry out a photo shoot on September 9 last year.
Forrest falsely claimed his brother had bought the building before pursuing the photographer and repeatedly striking him on the head and body.
He accused him of being from MI5 and continued acting in an aggressive manner before a passing motorist stopped to offer the photographer some assistance.
Forrest then picked up a bag containing the camera equipment and drove off in the direction of Peebles.
When police caught up with Forrest he initially failed to co-operate with a preliminary test for alcohol or drugs before providing a urine sample which showed he was almost four times the legal alcohol limit.
He pleaded guilty to four charges – assault and robbery, threatening or abusive behaviour, failing to co-operate with a preliminary breath test and drink driving.
Sheriff Robert Fife imposed jail sentences totalling 14 months and banned Forrest, of Dalatho Crescent, from driving for three years.
Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client had suffered a number of mental health difficulties. He explained the incident happened when there had been a break in his medication which was exacerbated by his consumption of alcohol.
He admitted Forrest’s behaviour was “bizarre” and that the incident must have been “terrifying” for the photographer.
Mr Patrick said Forrest’s medication was now controlled and there had been no other incidents within the past year.
He also added that Forrest had thrown the bag of camera equipment out of his car close to the scene and had gone to the police to tell them where it was but was unsure whether it had been recovered.