Thug has bail curfew lifted so he can go on holiday

A VIOLENT criminal had his bail curfew removed by a sheriff yesterday so he can spend a week on a foreign holiday.

Teenager John Harrison will fly out of Scotland this morning for a week's holiday despite being due to appear in court to be sentenced for several crimes today.

Harrison was placed on a curfew and ordered to stay indoors every night from 7pm to 7am after he admitted lashing out at police officers who tried to arrest him.

Since his initial arrest he has gone on to carry out a violent attack on a man and broken into a woman's home and stolen jewellery worth thousands of pounds.

Harrison, 16, was due to be sentenced for the offences at Perth Sheriff Court today. Instead he will be on a week-long holiday organised by his mother.

He appeared in court yesterday to ask a sheriff to remove the curfew condition for a week so he did not have to cancel the holiday his mother paid for.

Solicitor Mike Tavendale, defending, said: "This is an application to vary the bail curfew for seven days. He has three cases calling tomorrow.

"His mother had booked a family holiday some time previously and we put in an application so he would be allowed to go on the holiday.

"He is due to leave at 5:15am tomorrow and return at 2pm on 13 October."

Sheriff George Way agreed to remove the condition for seven days so Harrison, of 11 Morrison Terrace, Alyth, Perthshire, could go on the family holiday.

Harrison was placed on the curfew after admitting that on 3 July this year he struggled violently with police constables Iain Scougall and Nichola Forrester and lashed out with his arms and legs in Coupar Angus.

He also admitted that on 13 August he broke into Jillian Norris's home in Coupar Angus and stole a large quantity of jewellery including a military medal.

He stole a gold pocket watch, two gold link chains, a gold lighter, two silver pendants and chains, a gold pendant and chain, a string of pearls, a wallet, three mobile phones and a tub of hair gel.

Harrison also admitted attacking and injuring James Powell in Queen Street, Coupar Angus, on 24 September by punching him repeatedly on the head and body. He was subject to two bail orders at that time.

The decision to let Harrison out to go on holiday was condemned last night by Conservative justice spokesman Bill Aitken.

He said: "This man presented the court with a fait accompli and I am surprised and disappointed that the bail conditions were varied.

"Indeed, I am surprised - bearing in mind the seriousness of the offence and the fact that this was committed whilst already on bail - that he was not remanded in custody pending sentence.

"It does nothing to increase respect for the law when offenders such as Harrison are allowed to go on holiday in these circumstances and is yet another manifestation of the soft-touch approach employed in the Scottish justice system."