EARLSTON THUG CONVICTED OF CHILD ABUSE AND SEVERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A Borders man, James Sime, 45, of 61 Summerfield, Earlston (TD4 6ET), has been convicted of a series of violent and abusive offences including the assault of a child and repeated acts of domestic abuse.The case was heard at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, where Sheriff P.
Paterson imposed a three-year Non-Harassment Order under Section 234A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
The court heard that Sime’s campaign of abuse involved ongoing threats, intimidation, and physical violence within a domestic setting, culminating in the assault of a child.
He was also found guilty of breaching an undertaking and bail conditions, showing what the sheriff described as a persistent disregard for the law and for court orders intended to protect his victims.
The conviction included offences under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, both aggravated by the domestic abuse context.
Additional charges were brought under the Communications Act 2003, relating to offensive and abusive electronic messages sent to his victim.
Under the terms of the Non-Harassment Order, Sime is forbidden from approaching or contacting his former partner, either directly or indirectly in any form.
The only permitted exception allows contact by electronic means solely regarding communication about their children.
The order will remain in place until October 2028.
Sime was initially reported on 1 October 2025 as denying the charges but was found guilty days later, with the official paperwork signed by Clerk of Court Pauline Renwick confirming his convictions for domestic abuse, assault, and an offence against a child.
—————————————————————————————————— NEW OFFENCE —————————————————————————————————— AN EARLSTON man who breached a court order not to contact his former partner within 12 hours of it being issued has been remanded in custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
Forty-six-year-old James Sime, of Summerfield, had pleaded guilty to a domestic related offence on December 23.
Sentence had been deferred for background reports and Sime was released on bail with the special condition not to contact the woman.
But the court was told Sime got drunk and sent his ex messages during the early hours of Christmas Eve.
One read: "You can get me arrested and jailed if you want, I don't care." Defence lawyer Liam Alexander said his client had got drunk after the initial court case and could not help himself.
However, he now accepted the relationship was now over and asked for Sime's bail to be continued.
Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until January 20 for the previously ordered background reports but refused the motion for bail and remanded him in custody.
