HISTORY has been made at Selkirk Sheriff Court today with an accused person appearing for the first time by video link from a prison.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service has spent thousands of pounds investing in the new technology aimed at cutting transport costs from jails to courts.

Scott Morrison, 31, was the first accused person to appear on the video link from Saughton Prison in Edinburgh for the hearing before Sheriff Andrew Webster.

The accused was able to watch and listen to the court proceedings.

Meanwhile, court officials were able to view Morrison from the prison.

He pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and also a vandalism charge at he premises of Addaction - a charity which helps people with alcohol and drugs problems - in High Street, Galashiels, earlier this month.

Morrison of Church Square, Galashiels, had sentence deferred for the production of background reports including a Drug Treatment and Testing Order assessment until May 21 and he was released on bail.

A court spokeswoman explained that the technology will be used in the future for cases involving an accused on remand in prison for their intermediate diet hearings ahead of their trial and also prisoners being fully committed for private hearings.

The video prison link was used at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for the first time last week when two accused men were fully committed in private hearings.