A SELKIRK teenager who bought alcohol for four secondary school pupils two weeks after a sheriff issued a jail warning has escaped prison.
Brian Steele, 19, was told he wasn’t being locked up because he had learning difficulties.
Steele was given a restriction-of-liberty orders which bans him from leaving his home in Roberts Avenue between 8pm and 7am for the next two months.
In J
anuary, Sheriff Drummond – concerned about a rise in the number of under-agers obtaining drink – warned that the next person appearing before him on that charge faced jail.
The local sheriff court was told this week how Steele was given £30 by three 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old to buy two bottles of vodka and 12 cans of lager from a Galashiels supermarket. The offence came to light when one of the youngsters fell ill and her mother contacted the police.
Steele was caught on CCTV and admitted culpably and recklessly supplying the under-agers with alcohol at the Tesco store in Galashiels on January 19.
Iain Burke, defending, said: “He recognises that he should not have done this.
“He has learning difficulties and is easily preyed upon by others. They were happy to take advantage of him.”
Sheriff Drummond said: “I made it clear at the beginning of the year a line had to be drawn in the sand and if there was any more of this the person goes straight to jail.
“Were it not for some of the personal difficulties mentioned in the social enquiry report, he would be going straight to jail. This is a serious matter in the community.”
The full article contains 283 words and appears in Selkirk Weekend Advertiser newspaper.
