Published: Wednesday, 9th January, 2008 10:30
You'll be jailed
Comments (0)
Print Article
Sheriff Kevin Drummond
BORDERERS have been warned that anyone buying alcohol for under-agers from now on faces a significant prison sentence.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond said drunken youngsters was one of the biggest problems currently facing the community.
And the only way for the message to be rammed home was to make an example of someone and send them to jail.
He issued the warning after a Newstead teenager admitted buying a huge carry-out for three 14-year-old schoolgirls at Tesco in Galashiels.
One of their friends, also aged 14, was found lying on a footpath in Galashiels town centre later that night vomiting repeatedly.
She was taken to Borders General Hospital where she was detained overnight and police enquiries revealed she had been drinking the alcohol which had been purchased by 19-year-old Bryan Drum.
The offence happened on September 8 and Sheriff Drummond said that now warnings had been issued from the bench, the next person who appears before him and has carried out the act in 2008 can expect to be jailed.
First offender Drum of The Orchard, Newstead, pleaded guilty to buying three bottles of vodka, two bottles of After Shock, two bottles of Lambrini, two bottles of alcopops and four bottles of cider at a cost of £61.97.
Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said Drum was approached by the young girls at 4.20p.m. on Saturday, September 8 in Bank Streeyt, Galashiels, and asked to buy them alcohol for a party.
He explained: “The girls handed him £45 and arranged to meet him in the car park afterwards. He used his debit card to cover the additional cost.
“The security staff at Tesco had been suspicious of all of this and had been keeping an eye on him on their cameras which also cover the car park.
“He was seen to go outside with various bags and then several young women approached him. They handed over the remainder of the money to him and he walked off empty handed and they walked off with the bags containing a substantial amount of alcohol.
“The police were called by the staff who were clearly unimpressed at what they had witnessed but the officers were unable to find the girls at that time.
“However at 10.10 p.m. that evening police officers in the centre of Galashiels came across a friend of the girls who was lying on a footpath drunk and vomiting repeatedly. She was 14 years of age and an ambulance was called because of her condition. It rapidly became clear through the CCTV that the alcohol she had consumed was the same stuff that had been bought for them by the accused.”
Mr Fraser said that two of the girls who had been at Tesco earlier were with the 14-year-old and were able to provide information identifying Drum who was subsequently traced and interviewed.
He continued: “He confirmed he had been approached by the girls and said initially he was reluctant. He said he had no idea how old they were but knew they were under 18, possibly 15 or 16.
“The accused then said he did not know why he did it. He made a profit of two or three pounds on the transaction.
“Meanwhile, the 14-year-old got drunk and was found lying on the pavement and was kept in hospital overnight for observation.
“Clearly the accused’s conduct is utterly reprehensible.”
Sheriff Drummond took issue with Drum’s comments to social workers that he felt he had done nothing wrong.
Defence lawyer Iain Burke claimed the student was now a lot wiser after the event.
He said: “He did not think about the consequences. It was a one-off incident which caused significant distress and upset to him. But as a first offender he does not deserve the ultimate sanction of custody.”
Passing sentence Sheriff Drummond commented: “One of the worst problems in our community at the present time is young people under the influence of alcohol indulging in drunken acts, vandalism and anti social behaviour.
“We are now getting 14 and 15 year-olds in hospital with alcohol levels approaching fatal levels. This has got to be stopped.”
“I have made it clear that it is going to be dealt with at the most serious level.”
Sheriff Drummond told Drum: “You are the closest you can get to going to jail in your life.
“But I can say that the first person who appears in court for an offence committed in 2008 could very well be looking at a significant jail sentence.
“A line has to be drawn.”
Drum was ordered to carry out 100 hours community service as a direct alternative to custody.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Bike boss's anger as popular plans rejected