Freed from jail and back in custody within hours

He was arrested later on Tuesday night for incidents which included throwing a television set through a window and urinating on the seats of a police car, and on Wednesday afternoon he was remanded in custody when he appeared at Lanark Sheriff Court.

“Drink?” inquired Sheriff Nikola Stewart, who has dealt with Hamilton since he was a young man.

“Yes,” confirmed Hamilton’s solicitor.

“His brother was waiting back at the house and gave him alcohol. He was at his parents’ house, drinking with his brother, and he has little recollection of the events thereafter.”

Hamilton (33), whose address was given as 2 Kirkfield Road, Kirkfieldbank, pled guilty to two charges.

He admitted that on April 26 at 165 St Leonard Street, Lanark, outside it and in a police vehicle, he behaved in an aggressive manner, shouted, swore, threw objects around, repeatedly struck doors and windows at the house and other houses in St Leonard Street, shouted and swore at police officers, and within the vehicle urinated on the seats.

He also admitted smashing a lamp and throwing a television set through a window at 165 St Leonard Street.

A plea of not guilty to a charge of struggling violently with police officers was accepted.

Sheriff Stewart called for background reports, and refused bail, given that Hamilton had just been released on licence and behaved in “this appalling way”.