Case continued as court weighs alternatives to custody
A Bonnybridge man who admitted assaulting a police officer will return to court later this month after a sheriff heard his electronic curfew is complicating the unpaid work element of a community disposal. The case has been continued to explore “options other than custody.”
Ewan Hastings, 24, appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday and pleaded guilty to lunging towards an officer and headbutting him. He also admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at Falkirk Police Station on 29 January last year, repeatedly swearing, striking his head against a wall and spitting at officers.
Curfew and caring responsibilities cited
Defence solicitor Murray Aitken told the court that a criminal justice social work report on Hastings did not make, in his words,
“for good reading”and said his client was
“juggling commitments”linked to his daughter’s care. Mr Aitken explained that weekend unpaid work was not feasible due to those responsibilities, while Monday and Tuesday evenings were constrained by a court-imposed electronic tagging curfew.
Presiding, Sheriff Alison Michie adjourned proceedings until 22 July for a community payback review to examine
“options other than custody”for Hastings, who is listed as residing at 89 High Street, Bonnybridge.
What the case highlights about community sentences
The hearing underscores the practical challenges courts face in tailoring community payback orders when offenders are subject to electronic monitoring and also have caring duties. Community disposals can combine elements such as supervision, unpaid work and conduct requirements. When a curfew is in place, scheduling work placements can become difficult, particularly if weekdays and weekends are constrained.
- Assault on a police officer admitted, alongside abusive conduct at a station.
- Defence cited childcare and a curfew tag as obstacles to fulfilling unpaid work.
- Sheriff continued the case to assess non-custodial options within a community sentence.
While assaults on officers are treated seriously by the courts, the decision to continue the case suggests the bench is considering whether a revised package of community measures can be made to work in practice, balancing punishment, public protection and rehabilitation.
Timeline and key details
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident date | 29 January (last year) |
| Court appearance | Last Thursday at Falkirk Sheriff Court |
| Next hearing | 22 July – community payback review |
| Residence | 89 High Street, Bonnybridge |
Local context
Electronic monitoring is commonly used to enforce curfews in the community, restricting movement to specified times. In Falkirk district, unpaid work placements typically run across weekdays and weekends; where caring duties or curfews clash, social work services and the court may consider alternative scheduling or different components within a community payback order. The court will assess compliance prospects and public interest before deciding whether to maintain, adjust or replace community measures with custody.
The case returns on 22 July, when the court will hear from social work on what combination of requirements, if any, can be safely and realistically completed given the tagging conditions and family responsibilities set out by the defence.
