Our reporters have been sitting in courtrooms across the north and north-east this week and covered a wide variety of cases.
Knife-wielding man slashed at dealer
A man pulled a 10-inch blade during a street fight in an attempt to avoid paying back a drug debt.
Daniel Robertson, 37, was seen by members of the public waving a large kitchen knife around and making slashing movements towards another man on Aberdeen’s Wallfield Place.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Robertson pulled out the blade in an attempt to avoid paying a sizable drug debt.
Teen on cocaine charge
An Aberdeenshire teenager, who was caught with almost £5,000 of cocaine claims she had the drugs because she had fallen in with a bad crowd.
Rocha Lynch was 17 years old when police raided her home in Aboyne and placed her – along with a group of friends – in handcuffs.
She was arrested and taken into custody after officers recovered a number of packages of suspicious powder and “rock-like” substances.
Former restaurant boss admits immigration breach
A former restaurant boss has admitted a charge under the Immigration Act after being caught illegally employing his friend at his popular north-east business.
Iqbal Choudhury decided to help out the man, who was “down on his luck”, by offering him accommodation above India on the Green in Ballater and also giving him work in the restaurant.
The 48-year-old gave the man, who was not an EU citizen and was not allowed to work in the UK, petty cash, food and accommodation in exchange for helping out in the kitchen when the popular restaurant was busy.
Council driver over the limit
A council worker who thought he was “fine” to get behind the wheel after a night of drinking was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.
Jamie Howden had not realised he was unfit to drive when he was caught by police on the A9 at The Mound, near Dornoch.
Appearing before Tain Sheriff Court, Howden, 24, pled guilty to a single drink-driving charge relating to the incident on November 27 last year.
Man accused of graveyard rape
A man has appeared in court charged with raping a woman in an Aberdeen graveyard.
Police launched an investigation into a “serious” sexual assault on St Clement Street on May 15, and sealed off the churchyard as inquiries got under way.
The alarm was raised at about 2.20am following reports a 32-year-old woman had been attacked.
Eight-year ban for disqualified driver
A disqualified driver who caught the eye of police when he made a U-turn in front of a patrol vehicle has been handed an eight-year roads ban.
Christopher Murray performed the manoeuvre in front of officers on mobile patrol, causing them to activate their blue lights and stop him.
But they later discovered that he was already on a driving ban, and tracked down his vehicle, which now was being driven by a woman with no insurance.
Kinder cocaine surprise
A man has appeared in court after being caught with cocaine concealed in a Kinder egg.
Matthew McDonald was pulled over on the AWPR near Blackdog by officers following a tip-off.
When the 21-year-old was searched, officers discovered heroin and cocaine – some of which was hidden in a Kinder egg.
Forklift attack farmer jailed
A farmer has been jailed after being found guilty of ramming a forklift into a former school friend’s van and then slashing his neck with a blade.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Stuart Allan, 31, acted like a “drug-crazed hitman” when he ploughed the forklift’s spikes through the windscreen of Gary Stuart’s van before cutting his throat.
Allan’s victim was left so terrified by the assault on farmland in Alford that he fabricated a story to explain his injuries to family and friends.
Attack victim left coughing up blood
A man was chased through the streets, kicked and left coughing up blood after he tried to talk to a teenage girl.
Darryl Stone pled guilty to assault to injury at Inverness Sheriff Court following the city centre attack on August 4 last year.
The court heard that Stone had raced to the scene after hearing that the shirtless man had been approaching and questioning his young sister.
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Dumbtree fraudster
A Gumtree fraudster who conned a man out of money for a non-existent iPhone was snared when he sent his victim a box containing a key piece of evidence – his own address.
Steven Yule’s hapless criminal scheme fell to pieces when he decided to fill the iPhone box with a series of random items, including a yellow hat and a broken watch.
But it was the fact he also included a DVLA penalty notice – containing his own address – that was to prove his downfall.
The 52-year-old posted an advert for an iPhone 8 on the popular online marketplace and tricked two victims into sending £95 and £288 respectively.
Former Navy man shouted homophobic slur
A former Navy man has escaped punishment after shouting a homophobic slur at Prohibition bouncer in a row over jackets.
Ramsey Forbes had been drinking with friends in the popular Aberdeen nightspot when the incident happened in the early hours of the morning.
The 25-year-old had been outside having a cigarette when door staff began clearing the bar to close for the night.
Trial halted by monkeypox
A court in Inverness has been told that a trial cannot go ahead because a key witness has contracted monkeypox.
The case, at Inverness Sheriff Court, was due to begin today but was halted after a motion from the accused’s solicitor.
The lawyer made a motion to adjourn due to a funding issue, prompting fiscal depute Karen Poke to inform the court of the health matter affecting the alleged victim in the case.
Fish company fined after forklift death
A Shetland fish processing and sales company has been fined £80,000 for serious health and safety failings that led to the death of a 61-year old employee who was run over by a forklift.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, the Scalloway-based QA Fish Ltd accepted full responsibility for the accident, which happened on January 31 2018.
In his submission to the court, fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart of the Crown’s health and safety investigation unit said the tragic accident “may have been avoided” had the company followed health and safety regulations.
Controversial case won’t be appealed
Prosecutors have decided not to appeal a sheriff’s decision to let off three violent Aberdeen University students who put two clubbers in hospital, the Press and Journal can reveal.
Mohammad Hassan, 22, Luke Dragic, 21, and Paul Elliott, 21, all avoided punishment despite admitting the vicious street assault outside ATIK nightclub on January 18 2020.
Sheriff Edward Gilroy believed giving the trio criminal records would have a “disproportionate impact” on their future careers.
First night back on the booze lands man in court
A man who decided to drink after six years of sobriety was reminded why he swore off the booze when he found himself before a court.
George MacPhee “got a taste” for the drink after he decided to have a couple with his nephew following the death of his sister.
But when he was asked to leave a city centre bar he kicked off with door staff, threatening to smash windows and “get them”.
Dad who groped stripper ‘ashamed’
A drunk dad who groped a naked dancer at an Aberdeen strip club then threatened to slit the throat of a bouncer is “ashamed” of his behaviour, a court has been told.
Scott Higgins sexually assaulted the woman during a private dance at Number 7 Club in Aberdeen city centre.
He and the woman went to a private room at the Crown Street club where he broke the strict “no touching” rule by handling her breasts and bottom.
Annoying reveller punched bouncer
A man kicked out of Soul for “annoying” customers has been fined after punching a bouncer in the face.
Allan Sutherland initially complied as he was escorted to the city centre venue’s outer gate, but then “became agitated”.
The 44-year-old began to shout and swear at door staff before throwing a punch, leaving one of the bouncers with a cut lip.
Domestic abuser jailed
An Aberdeen domestic abuser has been locked up after subjecting his former partner to a series of violent attacks over the course of eight months.
Jamie Will kicked, bit and stood on his former girlfriend, leaving her bruised and terrified on multiple occasions.
The 24-year-old also bombarded her with threatening texts.
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Teen drug dealer snared
A 16-year-old drug dealer was caught with ecstasy and cannabis when police were called to a “party address” in Aberdeen.
Callum Farr, who is now 19, was snared when officers swooped on the property at Morven Court, Aberdeen.
In addition to finding the drugs, police also examined Farr’s phone and found messages indicative of being involved in the supply of illegal substances.
Teen’s bizarre park behaviour
A teenager with bloodied hands approached young girls in a playpark and asked them ‘who is your gang leader’ before asking one ‘can you drop kick?’
Nico Tole’s behaviour – branded ‘bizarre’ by his own solicitor – escalated later the same day when he trashed a delivery driver’s vehicle with a coffee table and then hurled rape threats at police officers.
It was Tole’s second time in the dock this week, having previously admitted his part in a brutal assault and robbery.
Serial rapist has no remorse
A violent rapist who throttled women during a catalogue of physical and sexual abuse was jailed for 10 years today.
Keith Donald raped two women and attempted to rape a third in attacks he committed over a nine-year period.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, a judge told him: “A lengthy custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal.”
Aberdeen terrorism trial begins
An army bomb squad officer today told a terrorism trial how one of the substances found at an Aberdeen man’s flat was “quite a powerful explosive”.
Captain Stefan Hurst was giving evidence at the trial of Richard Smith, who is accused of a number of crimes under the Terrorism Acts of 2000 and 2006, as well as other offences.
The jury at the High Court in Edinburgh was told King Street was closed to traffic and a number of nearby properties were evacuated as bomb disposal experts examined substances found inside Smith’s home.
Man on danger dogs charge after police officers bitten
A man has denied two charges under the Dangerous Dogs Act after police officers were bitten while responding to reports of a Covid house party.
Officers swooped on a property on Sluie Drive in Dyce on the evening of April 3 last year in response to a report of a gathering in breach of coronavirus regulations.
But three officers had to be taken to hospital after being attacked by two dogs at the scene.
‘Disgraceful’ drink-driver jailed
A repeat drink-driver has been locked up after tearing along city streets at night without lights, swerving onto the wrong side of the road and crashing – all while more than six times the alcohol limit.
Oilfield instrument engineer Zak Shinnie’s dangerous driving was today branded “disgraceful” by a sheriff as he sent him to prison.
The 50-year-old ploughed through two traffic islands after speeding along roads including the Lang Stracht, the A944, Kingwells Causeway and Derbeth Grange in Kingswells.
Charity worker took £11,000 from men with learning difficulties
A charity worker took more than £11,000 in cash from two Orkney men with learning difficulties.
Pamela Anderson abused her position with Enable Orkney to syphon cash from the bank accounts of the individuals.
She told police the stresses of her job resulted in her becoming involved in a cycle of drink, drugs and offending.
Man had £160-a-day cocaine habit
A man turned to dealing to fund his £160-a-day cocaine habit – just three months after being introduced to the drug by friends.
Jahed Rahman was caught with more than £2,000 worth of cocaine, as well as nearly £500 of ketamine.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 24-year-old had started taking cocaine at the weekends at parties.
Absolute discharge blasted
A sheriff’s decision not to punish a woman who tried to drag a police officer to the ground by her hair has been blasted as “impotent” and “unbelievable” by a police organisation.
Care home worker Chelsea Duguid admitted grabbing the female officer outside an Aberdeen pub but was handed a rarely-offered absolute discharge by Sheriff Ian Duguid.
The 29-year-old lashed out after seeing police officers pinning her then-boyfriend to the ground on Adelphi Lane in the early hours of the morning.
Serial 999 hoaxer called an ambulance for cut finger
A serial 999 time-waster called emergency services to tell them he had cut himself with a pen and that he had a sore stomach.
Garry Donald – who has previously been convicted of calling the emergency line hundreds of times, including to ask for a pizza – has now admitted two further offences.
On both occasions, call handlers sent police officers to the 49-year-old’s Aberdeen home where they found him drunk and not in need of any emergency care.
Killer driver gets six years
A convicted drink-driver whose dangerous actions behind the wheel of a powerful BMW caused the death of a “lovely” and “bubbly” woman has been jailed for six years.
Raymond Ward, 30, passed his test just three months before his BMW 218 D Sports Coupe collided with Claire Anderson’s purple Ford Fiesta on Orkney.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the horrifying smash took place on the A964 road between Kirkwall and Orphir on June 14 2019.
Man jailed after raiding NHS clinic
A man who stole from an NHS clinic in Inverness has been sentenced to six months in prison.
Duffy Reid took NHS uniforms, face masks and a quantity of adrenaline from the NHS Highland premises, along with cameras and iPads.
He was caught out after support staff at his accommodation spotted him with three “large bags.”
Domestic abuser in court
A violent Aberdeen man has appeared in court over a campaign of domestic abuse that happened so many times his victim “lost count”.
Robert Harrison, 59, subjected his partner to repeated abuse, including punching and pushing her body and striking her head, over a period of 15 months.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told Aberdeen Sheriff Court about an alcohol-fuelled incident that took place in August 2020.
Angry neighbour knocked out north-east pub boss
An angry neighbour knocked out a Kintore pub owner in a late-night row about too much noise coming from the bar.
Martin McHendry decided he’d had enough of the din outside The Square Bar and Lounge when it woke up his family in the early hours of the morning.
The 31-year-old confronted the owner but, after receiving a “cheeky” response, lost his cool and headbutted and punched the man.
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