TWO court cases collapsed last week because witnesses claimed they were too drunk to remember the crimes.

Sheriff John Hamilton reduced one 17-year-old alleged assault victim to tears when he challenged her over contradictory statements while under oath.

And he told another witness to “get out” after causing an allegation of racist abuse of a train ticket examiner to collapse.

The cases, last Wednesday, both resulted in acquittals when the Crown withdrew the charges.

In the first case, Caroline Crossan, of the Safe As Houses project in Clydebank, was alleged to have shouted racial abuse at a member of ScotRail staff at Balloch station on May 28, while on bail.

The first witness told the court: “I don’t remember where I was that day. I had been drinking.”

Fiscal depute Martina McGuigan asked: “Do you remember if you were with anyone that day?”

The man replied: “No. I had been drinking quite heavily most days.”

Ms McGuigan said she had nothing further to ask and Sheriff Hamilton told the witness: “You can go. Get out.”

Ms McGuigan said the Crown was not not seeking a conviction and Ms Crossan was acquitted and left the dock.

Later that day, John Crawford, of Kane Street, Renton, stood trial for allegedly assaulting a 17-year-old girl by hitting her on the head in Main Street on February 25.

The teenager told the court she had been at a house party drinking and started arguing with a pal “over a boy”.

They later left and the girl said: “It’s all a big blur. I remember speaking to the police but I can’t remember what I said to them.”

At one point the teen threw her head back, slightly smiling, and Sheriff Hamilton burst out: “Do not smile. It’s not funny. You’re under oath.”

The girl said: “I’m telling the truth.”

But the sheriff replied: “I will be the judge of that.”

The witness burst into tears and her mother got up from the public benches and strode towards the witness box as the sheriff, court officers and police tried to stop her.

Eventually the woman was escorted from the courtroom. The teenager was also taken out for some minutes.

On returning she told the court: “My mum called up the next day to ask if I could withdraw my statement because I was too drunk. I don’t remember giving a statement to the police.”

Ms McGuigan sat down and said she had nothing further, withdrawing the libel.

Sheriff Hamilton acquitted Mr Crawford, who was returned to custody where he is serving a sentence on another matter.