Court takes grave view of cemetery tribute argument

David Ovens left a statue engraved with a touching message from the family at the grave of his brother Ian.

But Ian’s wife Claire found the memento and returned it – smashed into pieces – to his home in Polbeth, West Lothian.

Livingston Sheriff Court was told that Ovens, 28, was furious that the smashed tribute had caused his mum Janice, 53, to burst into tears. So he shouted out of the window at Claire and her friend: “You’re a pair of f****** roasters.”

But the court was told that speaking to his sister-in-law breached a bail condition banning him from approaching or communicating with her.

Ovens earlier pleaded guilty to breaching bail by contacting her and shouting and swearing at her. He was fined £200.

Sheriff Robert Vaughan said: “The charge was aggravated in the sense that you were on bail already.”