A man who was cleared of standing on a seven-month-old baby has been jailed for stealing thousands of pounds from a betting shop.
Ricky Davidson had been on trial last month at Aberdeen Sheriff Court accused of assaulting the youngster by repeatedly striking him on the head and body and standing on him at an address in the city.
However, the case against the 23-year-old collapsed after a Crown witness claimed she had made up the allegations out of spite.
Davidson was also alleged to have assaulted the baby’s mother to the danger of her life by strangling her on August 26 last year.
However, fiscal depute Elaine Ward decided not to lead any further evidence after hearing from just two witnesses and the case against him was dropped.
The decision was taken after the baby’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave evidence during the first day of the trial and told the jury she had made it all up to “make him pay” following a row.
After the charges were dropped the court heard Davidson had previously admitted committing two other offences which had not been on the indictment before the jury.
Davidson stole £5,600 from a betting shop in the city and threatened a potential witness who was due to give evidence in his case.
The court heard the 23-year-old had been a customer at Coral Eurobet in Aberdeen’s George Street on August 17 when the assistant manager took the takings out of the safe and put them on the counter.
Mrs Ward said the woman had been planning to count the cash before returning it to the safe.
Davidson then approached the counter and asked the woman for a coffee. As she turned her back, he grabbed the bag full of money and ran.
Representing the repeat offender yesterday, solicitor Graeme Morrison said he had taken the cash and spent it on an “extravagant present” for his three-year-old daughter.
Davidson also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by making threats to a woman who was due to give evidence at his trial last month.
Mrs Ward said that after Davidson discovered she had made a statement to the police he turned up at her house and shouted at her “if you stand up in court against me you will see what happens”.
Sheriff William Summers said Davidson had committed “serious” offences and jailed him for a total of 26 months.