29-year-old jailed over disturbance in Galashiels park and knife incident in Hawick

Darren Devlin was given a half-year jail term at Selkirk Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, challenging others to fight and brandishing a sock containing a brick in Gala Park in Galashiels in August.

On top of that, in October he was found unconscious in Hawick’s North Bridge Street with a kitchen knife by his side.

His jail sentence was back-dated to November 11, that being when Devlin, giving an address in Morebattle but also previously of Hawick and Kelso, was taken into custody.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he’d considered imposing a drug treatment testing order but decided against doing so as Devlin claimed he was still able to use illicit drugs while on remand in prison.

The sheriff added that, although there is now a Scottish Government-imposed presumption against short-term sentences, he felt there were exceptional enough circumstances in this case to impose a six-month custodial term.

He pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing, challenging others to fight and brandishing a sock containing a brick.

Regarding the August incident, procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told a previous hearing: “The offence happened at about 5pm, when children were out playing as it was still part of the school holidays. It is not clear why he was there, but he was challenging anyone who was listening to a fight.

“Neighbours were concerned and asked him to leave, but he started to swing a sock above his head. It contained two bricks. Two of them spoke to him while a third telephoned the police.

“He was restrained until police arrived.

“He was wearing no socks at the time.”