Repeat disqualified driver jailed and given five-year ban

A serial Angus offender has been jailed for a year after reaching the end of the road over a host of offences, including repeatedly driving while banned.

Leon Eccles, 22, of Gibson Place in Montrose, was also disqualified forafurtherfiveyearsafterappearing at Forfar Sheriff Court for sentence on previously admitted charges, including stealing jewellery from a house in Christie’s Lane, Montrose, and breaching bail.

He also previously pleaded guilty to an October 2016 offence in which he rode a motorcycle carelessly in Brechin and without insurance and while disqualified.

Eccles appeared handcuffed in the dock having been remanded since the end of last month after failing to appear in court. Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said the matters before the court involved “a variety of offending”.

Mr Rennie added: “He accepts that the social work report before the court is not the most positive report for him.

“He is a young man who, at the age of just 22, has found himself in something of a revolving door to custody, but a community-based disposal has not been tried previously. If it is not a communitybased disposal, he would rather matters were concluded so that he knows where he stands.”

Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “I think he needs to emerge from custody with the slate wiped clean.

“There is an important public perception here.

“The accused has a significant record and seems to pay scant regard to the rules of court, as evidenced by the fact that he has been disqualified from driving at least three times in front of me.”

Also at Forfar: Charles Gardiner, 34, of Noran Avenue, Arbroath, was jailed for three months after admitting behaving in a threatening manner at De Vito’s nightclub, Arbroath, on October 14 last year, repeatedly refusing to leave and challenging others to fight.

The court heard Gardiner is serving a 22-month jail term, but is eligible to apply for a tag from next month. Around 300 Dundee University students took centre stage at the Caird Hall yesterday.

Graduates from the university’s school of medicine and dentistry collected their degrees in front of delighted friends and family.

A total of 600 students of all ages collected their degrees on Thursday in the same location.

Abertay University will host its graduation ceremony next Friday.

Picture: Dougie Nicolson.