Handcuffed Blairgowrie soldier legged it from police

Feb 24 2011 by Alison Lowson, Blairgowrie Adv

A DRUNKEN Blairgowrie soldier, arrested after a disturbance in a local bar, ran off down the street while in handcuffs after asking police if he could have a cigarette.

But 21-year-old Aaron Black was soon apprehended – and paid the penalty when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court this week.

The squaddie, who was based at Fort George, near Inverness, at the time, admitted running away from two police officers in Perth Street, Blairgowrie, on November 14 last year.

Black, of Glendevon Court, had not guilty pleas accepted to two other charges.

The first alleged that he refused to leave the Dreadnought Bar in Perth Street, Blairgowrie, when asked by staff member Stephanie Bruce.

The second alleged that he repeatedly shouted, swore and intimidated Hazel Stewart in the premises.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said that there had been an incident in the bar and the police were asked to attend.

“He was rightly apprehended and at one point he was asked if he wanted to make any comment,” stated the fiscal.

“He asked: ‘Could I have my fag’ and as officers were trying to sort that out, he slipped away from them.

“He ran off while still handcuffed but was caught shortly afterwards.”

Solicitor David Holmes said the accused if a serving soldier and produced a letter from his unit.

“He’s a private with five years’ service and has seen active service.

“He was intoxicated, as your Lordship will have guessed.”

The sheriff, who noted that the accused had a previous conviction for a similar offence, pointed out that no violence had been involved.

He described the incident, however, as “at the lower end of the scale” and it had been “doomed to failure.”

Black was fined £135, payable at £50 a month.