Sentence deferred on Brechin man who breached dog ban

A Brechin man who was caught with a dog, despite being banned from keeping them, will have to wait until next year to learn his fate.

Sentence was deferred on Paul Mccrorie, 42, when he appeared from custody at Forfar Sheriff Court to give him time to settle at home when he is released from jail for a separate matter. He is due to return to court on January 18.

Mccrorie has admitted having a dog after previously being barred from keeping the animals for 10 years for setting his German shepherd on police.

He allowed the dog to repeatedly bare its teeth, bark, rear up, pull on its lead and lunge towards four officers and attempt to bite them on command.

The court heard he had been asked to control the animal but told police: “Back off or I will let him maul you. He is trained to attack hi-vis.”

Officers stood down and retreated to a safe distance while Mccrorie and the dog walked on.

A property seizure warrant was later granted for his address and the dog was taken to kennels.

Mccrorie relinquished ownership of the animal after his arrest and it was rehomed outside the Tayside area.

Appearing in court in early 2015, he admitted being in charge of a German shepherd that was dangerously out of control in Montrose Street, Brechin.

The ban handed down by the sheriff at that time means he is not allowed to have another dog until 2025. However, he has now admitted having a German shepherd in Brechin in June 2015 and April 2016.

The latest calling of the case heard he now has an address in Montrose Street, Brechin.

A local campaigner has voiced fears a buyer may not be found in time to save the building.

Karen Mccauley, who managed the Starthmartine Hospital Histories project, said: “It will be difficult to find someone to buy a site that does not yet have planning permission.

“In addition they would have to pay all this money before they can even start developing it.”

A planning application to redevelop the former hospital into flats was approved by Angus Council in 2015, but was recalled by the Scottish Parliament.

The application is currently with the Scottish ministers.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers have previously advised that they were minded to grant planning permission in principle for the redevelopment of the former Strathmartine Hospital site.

“This was subject to conditions and the conclusion of a planning obligation.

“Planning permission in principle will not be formally granted until a planning obligation has been concluded to the satisfaction of ministers.

“However, a level of flexibility has been permitted to allow an extended period for the applicant and other main parties involved to conclude the planning obligation satisfactorily.

“That means this is still a live planning application and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Angus Council has been contacted for comment.