ANGUS MAN JAILED AFTER DRUNKEN ATTEMPT TO TAKE CHILD OUT IN PRAM
An Angus man named Ian Brand from Brechin has been jailed for four months after he drank a half-bottle of Buckfast and attempted to take his child out for a walk.Ian Brand appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted causing a breach of the peace at his partner’s home on Market Street.
The court heard that the 26-year-old was intoxicated at the property and declared he was “taking the wee man” before leaving with a pram in tow.
He only returned the child when his partner called the police, and then he engaged in a physical altercation with neighbors.
The defense solicitor, Billy Rennie, explained that Brand had been going through a difficult period ever since losing his father in a road traffic accident in 2009.
It was revealed that Brand had previously admitted causing his father's death in a High Court case in Glasgow in 2011 when he lost control of a motorbike they were riding outside Brechin.
A sheriff noted that Brand struggled with alcohol and was reluctant to seek help.
The fiscal depute, Bill Kermode, stated that Brand entered the property on September 20 under the influence of alcohol.
He confirmed that Brand had recently consumed Buckfast and was aggressive, shouting and swearing at the complainant.
Brand took the youngest child and placed him in a pram and then left with the child.
Upon realizing that the police had been called, Brand returned the baby to the complainant and started walking across the street towards witnesses Mr.
Paton and Mr.
McLaren.
He then seized Mr.
McLaren’s clothing and punched him, but did not release his hold.
Sheriff Murray commented that Brand had a longstanding alcohol problem and had not sought assistance despite various attempts at different disposals for his previous convictions.
The sheriff concluded that there was no option but to impose a custodial sentence, emphasizing the danger of Brand coming home with alcohol and attempting to take a child away, pointing out that the situation could have been much worse.
The sheriff remarked, “Any man that comes home with a half-drunk bottle of Buckfast and tries to take a child doesn’t know what is going to happen next,” highlighting the immediate risk involved.
Brand admitted to the breach of peace at Market Street on September 20.
