Drive-through bail breach was ‘stupid’

An Angus man was fined £500 for a bail breach which he put down to wanting to get to a McDonald’s restaurant.

Domestic offender Kevin Fleming had been banned from going into Brechin as part of the bail conditions imposed to protect the 32-year-old’s ex after their relationship broke down.

But the Montrose man was seen by police passing through the town.

He maintained he was on the way to satisfy his hunger at For far ’s McDonald’s restaurant.

The offence was branded by a sheriff as a “particularly stupid” breach of the court order.

Fleming has now also been served up supervision and a year-long nonharassment order after appearing before Sheriff Derek Reekie at Forfar for sentence.

The court heard Fleming had been in a relationship with the woman, but it ended in February. The breakdown followed an incident at the start of the year when an argument over messages on a mobile phone spilled over into a struggle between the pair.

He was placed on bail over the matter with the special condition not to go into Brechin, but was seen driving through it in May.

Fleming, of Langley Avenue, Montrose, told the court it was his usual route to get from his home to the Forfar food stop.

He also pled guilty to another breach of bail in which he let the former partner into his house, telling police she had been drunk at the time.

Defence solicitor Michael Boyd said: “He wasn’ t absolutely certain about the conditions of bail, but not entering Brechin is not entering Brechin by any means.

“It is a toxic relationship and both parties have engaged in phoning Police Scotland.

“The relationship is over, he recognises that – it is just too unstable,” said Mr Boyd.

Sheriff Reekie told Fleming: “It seems as though you have had a problem with the break-up of your relationship and didn’t deal with it in the most adult fashion.

“Going into Brechin is a serious charge and even though you say it was a shortcut you should have known you were not to go there.

“Driving through it was particularly stupid,” said the sheriff.

Fleming was also put on a six-month community payback order including supervision.