A HAWICK man accused of striking a 15-year-old boy on the head with a bottle to his injury has walked free at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Alexander Deans, 38, had also also charged with struggling violently with a 14-year-old boy and striking him on the head.

The offences are alleged to have happened in Hawick's High Street on April 29.

Deans, who gave an address in Manchester, faced a third charge of shouting and brandishing a glass bottle as well as possession of an offensive weapon, namely a bottle.

However when the case was due to call for trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, the Crown asked for an adjournment so that special measures, which had not previously been applied for, could be put in place to protect vulnerable witnesses.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said there had been a clear fault on behalf of the Crown and there were other factors for which he ruled that an adjournment would not be appropriate.

The Crown then deserted the case against Deans.