Man, 77, shown leniency over row

A 77-year-old man with no criminal record was dealt with leniently yesterday, after a sheriff heard he had been locked up in custody overnight for arguing with his wife.

James Dalziel was admonished after a court heard he spent a night in a police cell after being arrested for slamming doors and insulting his wife of 45 years.

Retired lorry driver Dalziel, who had not been in trouble with the law before, was taken away by officers despite being his frail wife Christina’s carer.

He was then banned from having any contact with his wife of nearly half a century until he returned to court and persuaded a sheriff to remove the special bail condition so they could spend Christmas together.

Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis said: “He spent a night in custody and appeared in court after that, didn’t he? I will admonish him.”

Dalziel had initially pleaded not guilty when he appeared from custody on December 16 but changed his plea to guilty to avoid his wife having to give evidence against him.

The Perth pensioner admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, slamming doors, throwing items around and making derogatory remarks to Christina Dalziel on December 15.

Depute fiscal Jim Eodanable told Perth Sheriff Court: “On this occasion he had too much to drink. Officers asked the complainer if this was a persistent problem and she said it was not. An argument had started over their finances.

“Matters degenerated and the accused was shouting and swearing. She told him to behave or she would phone the police. He wasn't for taking a telling.

“Officers were there shortly thereafter. All the puff had gone out of the accused and he caused no further difficulty. The couple arrived together at court and have remained a couple throughout this time.”

Solicitor Billy Somerville, defending, said: “When the bail conditions prevented him from going to the house, she felt like a prisoner in her own home. In 45 years this seems to have been the one incident and doesn’t seem that bad.”

Dalziel leaves court after being admonished over an argument he had with his wife.