Drug test order for light row man

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A man who attacked his mother after she switched off lights in her home has been put on a medical order which can require him to be tested for cannabis.

Derek Brown, 52, of Peebles was charged with attempted murder in the town in November 2006 but was found not guilty by majority on grounds of insanity.

He has been in a psychiatric unit and been on a compulsory treatment order.

Now he has been given a further order which allows doctors to test blood samples for cannabis use.

After she was attacked at her Edinburgh Road home, Brown's mother Ilene told police she thought he was going to kill her.

He head butted her and grabbed her by the throat.

He had told her not to turn the lights off because he thought there were snipers outside, targeting both him and his mother.

Psychotic illness

A jury found him not guilty by a majority verdict earlier this year because he was insane.

Psychiatrists said Brown, of George Terrace, had suffered a relapse of a psychotic illness.

He spent several months in psychiatric units following the incident and is currently under a compulsory treatment order.

He has now been given the additional blood testing order.

Judge Lord MacKay told Brown if he continued to take the drug it could lead to further problems.