A HAWICK man was spotted by police officers carrying a sword following an early morning disturbance in the town in December.

Stuart Leech, 34, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to possession of an offensive weapon at his Trinity Street home at 2.40am.

Prosecutor Drew Long said police officers on mobile patrol came across Leech walking in the middle of the road and appearing to be in a “frantic” state.

They followed him to Trinity Street but were unaware at the time it was Leech’s home.

Mr Long said he was then seen to be in possession of a sword before Leech went back into a house where there was some noise and commotion.

He added that the police officers approached the door and told him to put the sword down.

Leech refused to do so at first and closed the door.

Eventually he put down the sword and was arrested and made no reply to being cautioned and charged.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said there had been an earlier incident when a male and female had assaulted Leech and his partner, with his partner ending up being stabbed.

He continued: “She went to her home address where an ambulance was called.

“He did not know what to do but attracted the attention of the police and went into his own property where he picked up the sword.

“He was not thinking straight and his head was all over the place.”

Mr Hulme said the male and female who allegedly assaulted them have appeared in court and are remanded in custody awaiting trial.

But he added: “He [Leech] appreciates it is a serious charge and crosses the custody threshold.”

Sheriff Robert Fife said the weapon was described as an ornamental samurai sword and added it would have been “alarming” for the police officers and members of the public who saw it.

He imposed an alternative to custody in the form of 200 hours unpaid work and also imposed a night-time curfew at his Trinity Street home between the hours of 7pm and 7am for the next six months.