Monday is always the busiest day in Scotland's sheriff courts. Sheriffs, prosecuting fiscals and defence lawyers are at full tilt on any Monday dealing with the weekend custodies. But when a Monday coincides with Christmas Eve the numbers are swelled by disshevelled Santas, unshaven elves and fallen christmas tree fairies. The 'charges as libelled' don't really vary much throughout the year but some do have added seasonal detail, trailing tinsel as they emerge blinking into the dock.