FIVE members of a “family from hell” have been sentenced in court at the same time in what is believed to be a legal first in Scotland.

They all crowded into the dock at Selkirk Sheriff Court to be sentenced for a series of offences.

The 38-year-old mother was fined a total of £375 for two offences of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

She also admitted a third charge for a similar offence and sentence was deferred for good behaviour for nine months with the condition she does not enter Queen Elizabeth Square in Galashiels, Selkirkshire.

Her 48-year-old partner was fined £200 after admitting behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. A 20-year-old male was fined £150 and ordered to pay £75 compensation to a householder in Queen Elizabeth Square after admitting behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

An 18-year-old female was fined £225 after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer.

A 16-year-old male, who admitted a charge of causing malicious damage, had sentenced deferred until next May for good behaviour.

The family members, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are understood to have left Galashiels and now live in East Lothian. Experts said they cannot recall a case when so many family members have appeared in the dock at the same time.

They cannot be named for legal reasons because of the young age of some of the accused.