Assault man told to travel to court

A second sheriff has said a man who assaulted a woman in Rattray but now lives in London must come to Perth Sheriff Court to be sentenced.

Last month sheriff David Hall said he expected Colby Summers Graham to come to the court this month to be sentenced for carrying out the attack last year.

Graham previously admitted assaulting the woman at a property in Glenshee Drive on July 31, 2021, by pushing her to the ground and restraining her then seizing her by the hair, repeatedly striking her head against the ground and punching her on the head, all to her injury.

However when the case called again at Perth Sheriff Court this month Graham’s solicitor David Holmes asked whether his sentence could be passed without him being present.

He told the court the 26 year-old was now staying in London and was trying to deal with various mental health issues affecting him.

Mr Holmes offered to relay whatever sentence was passed to Graham to save him having to travel.

But Sheriff Rory Bannerman said he had“some difficulty”with the idea of passing sentence in Graham’s absence and would prefer he came to court personally as had been previously requested by Sheriff Hall.

Sheriff Bannerman deferred sentencing Graham for another month and added if he does not come to the court willingly the next time his case is due to be called he would move to have him arrested.

Graham, of Swallow House, Barrow Hill Estate, London, is now expected to attend court for sentencing on November 9.