A DRUNKEN 30-year-old man disrupted children's tennis lessons by shouting and swearing, and punching changing room walls.

Shane Lawrence staggered from a children's play park in Scott Park, Galashiels, to the nearby tennis courts where he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner.

Lawrence from Galashiels, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to the offence which happened on November 24.

Police had already been contacted about Lawrence's behaviour in the Scott Park when he headed over to the tennis courts and entered the changing rooms and began shouting and swearing and punching walls.

Two tennis coaches managed to usher him out of the changing rooms and police eventually took him to Borders General Hospital due to his intoxicated condition.

Lawrence eventually settled down at the hospital after being warned about his behaviour by a staff nurse and made no reply to being cautioned and charged.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said Lawrence had been on a downward spiral following the break-up with his partner and had moved to Galashiels from Edinburgh.

He added:"He cannot explain why he entered the tennis centre."

Sheriff David Clapham said: "I am concerned about the circumstances here when children are present having tennis lessons and are confronted by your behaviour. and this continued at Borders General Hospital."

Lawrence was ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work as an alternative to custody.