GP warned by sheriff over unfinished report for Dalmuir man's court case

Graeme Carlyle’s solicitor told a hearing on Thursday that he had written on January 19 asking for the report on his client.

The document wasn’t available when Carlyle returned to court on February 21 – and when the 38-year-old Crescent Court resident came back into the dock on March 9, his lawyer, Brian McGuire, said the report had still not been provided.

The report was ordered to find out whether Carlyle would be fit to carry out unpaid work in the community after he admitted assaulting a police officer by spitting on his head in the common close at his home address on November 19, 2015.

Carlyle had also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and making threatening gestures towards police in the course of the same incident.

Mr McGuire said: “The medical practice indicated in February that they were so busy they hadn’t prepared the report.

“I asked on February 21 for a continuation until today, thinking that would be sufficient.

“My office called the practice again prior to today’s hearing and were advised no report had been prepared, and that they needed to see him and had written to him.

“Mr Carlyle tells me he didn’t receive that letter.

“On February 22 he attended the practice for another appointment to get a repeat prescription. The doctor also went through his position in relation to the injuries he sustained.

“The GP asked all the appropriate questions to ascertain how his recovery was progressing.”

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry told Mr McGuire: “I am authorising you to say that Sheriff Hendry will be ordaining the senior partner at the practice to come to court and explain the delay if the report is not available on the next occasion.

“We’ll see whether that has the desired response. I trust that when the case next calls, the court will have the report.”

Carlyle was told to come back to court on March 30; his bail was continued.