Warrant issued after alleged victim fails to appear in dock

A sheriff has issued an arrest warrant for an alleged assault victim after her second failure to appear in court.

Kayleigh Beattie had been due to appear in the dock at Forfar in relation to a continued contempt of court matter following an earlier calling of the case in which she is due to give evidence.

Stephen Craig, 27, of Annat Road, Montrose, is alleged to have assaulted Beattie by punching her on the head in St James Place, Brechin, on June 24 last year.

Defence solicitor Michael Boyd said: “She (Beattie) made it clear previously that she was happy to attend the trial to give evidence and the contempt of court matter was continued, but she has offered no explanation as to why she is not in court.”

Sheriff Jillian Martin-brown granted the warrant for Beattie’s arrest and continued consideration of the contempt matter until the next calling of the case on November 7.

Also at Forfar: Francis Haldane, 43, of Carlisle Street, Glasgow, was placed on a oneyear community payback order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.

He previously admitted assaulting his estranged wife at a house on Queen Street, Arbroath, on June 13 by pushing her on the body, causing her to strike a bed.

Defence solicitor Nick Whelan said the social work report “does not make good reading in relation to the incident.”

Sheriff Gregor Murray told Haldane: “You have been estranged from the lady in question for some time, but it is never possible to excuse pushing someone of the opposite sex.”