Our reporters have been sitting in courtrooms across the north and north-east this week and covered a wide variety of cases.
Man arrested for abusing police
A man who was arrested after being verbally abusive to police went on to urinate all over his bed when officers placed him in a cell.
Greig Falconer, 29, was reported to police by neighbours after he had been ranting incoherently and shouting within the communal stairwell of his building.
When police arrived he became even more abusive and violent – spitting when placed into a police van.
As an officer placed Falconer in a cell, he then urinated all over the bed.
‘I’ll cut your head off and spit down the hole’
A man falsely reported a housebreaking then leapt out and assaulted a female police officer as she responded to the call.
Mohammed Islam, 20, called the police using the name ‘Jakob Hamilton’ and reported a housebreaking in progress in the Kincorth area of Aberdeen.
However, as police responded, Islam appeared before a female officer and, without warning, began to pummel her repeatedly with both fists.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court also heard that on a separate occasion, police attended at Islam’s home where he told them he would “cut their heads off and spit down the hole”.
Flasher who claimed penis was sandpaper given unpaid work
A painter who exposed his penis to a pensioner and then claimed it was a piece of sandpaper has been handed unpaid work.
David Grant, 50, was found guilty of exposing himself in front of the shocked 69-year-old at a farm property in Aberdeenshire following a trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
A sheriff had been quick to dismiss his far-fetched explanation after hearing a damning voicemail recording in which Grant himself admitted: “I just took it a bit too far.”
Sentence was deferred on Grant, who had denied the charge, following the verdict for background reports to be prepared.
Drug dealer celebrates after being spared prison
A drug dealer caught red-handed with more than £2,600 worth of cocaine has been spared jail after a court heard he was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
Scott Ewen celebrated outside court after he narrowly avoided a custodial sentence for his involvement in dealing Class A drugs from a home in Aberdeen.
He was caught handling the cocaine at a flat belonging to an acquaintance in Claremont Street on August 5 2020, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
The 27-year-old was in the home when police arrived to arrest someone else at the property but soon attracted the attention of the officers himself.
Medical student let off hook for assault for sake of career
A medical student has escaped a conviction for punching a man in a nightclub despite admitting the offence – because it would affect his career.
Sahilpreet Singh had been on a night out with friends to celebrate his birthday when he got into a drunken row with another reveller in Tunnels on Carnegies Brae.
The 24-year-old lashed out and punched the man in the face, breaking his glasses and leaving him with a cut to his face.
But the student was handed an absolute discharge as a conviction would have impacted his career in the medical profession and potentially affected his immigration status.
Tourist jailed over crash that killed five
An Italian tourist has been jailed after a court convicted him of causing the deaths of five people, including his four-year-old son, in a horrific crash on the A96.
Alfredo Ciociola was driving a Fiat minibus on the wrong side of the road when he collided with a Nissan SUV at the Drummuir junction on the A96 near Keith.
His son Lorenzo, aged four, died in the tragedy along with a rear passenger in his vehicle, 63-year-old Maltese woman Frances Saliba.
Her husband Francesco Patane was seriously injured along with Ciociola’s wife Concetta, who was also in the back with her children during the fatal collision.
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Late-night knife disturbance
A man’s year of sobriety ended in a disturbing fashion when he turned up at a family’s home late at night armed with a knife.
William Kelman was drunk when he arrived at the Alness address and started banging on the door to demand the occupant come outside.
Tain Sheriff Court was told a child was sleeping inside the home at the time and the concerned homeowner refused to leave the property.
Kelman shouted foul-mouthed abuse at the man before police arrived and found him lying in the middle of the road.
Lorry driver nodded off at wheel
A lorry driver has been allowed to keep his licence despite “nodding off” at the wheel and crashing into another HGV on the A90.
David Grieve, 65, fell asleep “momentarily” as he drove along the route near its junction with the A937 to Marykirk in the early hours of the morning.
But as he drifted off to sleep, so too did his truck – which collided with another HGV parked in a layby.
Fiscal depute Ryan Diamond told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the driver of the other lorry had been asleep in the cab of his vehicle when the collision occurred, at around 3.50am on September 29 2019.
Man assaulted victim with car jack
An early-morning fallout in Aberdeen resulted in a man throwing a car jack at his victim’s head, a court has heard.
Sean Hanratty flung the heavy metal jack just minutes after he’d repeatedly punched his victim as he lay on the ground in a newsagent, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
The 27-year-old assaulted the man in The Neuk convenience store on Clarke Road around 7.30am on May 15 last year.
Fiscal depute Tom Procter said there had been “some form of disagreement” between the two men in the months before the attack.
Murderer can’t remember killing
A murderer told police he couldn’t remember killing an Aberdeen man at a party because his head was “f*****” from consuming alcohol and drugs, a court has heard.
Sean O’Halloran, 20, made the admission to detectives after being arrested for murdering Scott Hector at a home in Marischal Court, Aberdeen, on April 2 2021.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the pair, one of whom pleaded guilty to murder while the other admitted to culpable homicide, had gone there to obtain drugs from Mr Hector.
But upon arriving at the address, O’Halloran stabbed his victim on the body once and stole narcotics belonging to the dead man.
Axe-wielding shop robber foiled by customers
An axe-wielding masked man who tried to rob a shop was foiled when customers chased him away with a barrage of groceries.
Jay Jamieson hadn’t counted on the bravery of two shoppers when he tried to raid the Premier Store in Peterhead.
The 19-year-old was brandishing an axe when he burst into the Berryden Road shop and demanded the till be opened.
But Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that customers turned on the would-be robber, chasing him from the store by flinging juice and other food items at him.
Postman found with indecent images
A Royal Mail worker has been placed on the sex offenders register after a police raid at his home uncovered indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals.
Postman Mark Hilliard was suspected of being in possession of indecent images by police who turned up at his home where they seized his devices, along with an air rifle and cannabis plants.
The images and video footage found on the 47-year-old’s computer involved girls estimated to be as young as six.
Videos were also found of adults having sex with animals.
Unpaid work for teen who filmed sex with child
A teenager who had sex with an underage girl in an abandoned building and then threatened to throw her out of the window has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Adam Godfrey, 19, made the chilling threat after the child challenged him when she noticed him filming their sexual encounter.
He also struck his vulnerable 15-year-old victim to the face when she protested about being recorded.
Godfrey, of Stevens Road, Manchester, previously pled guilty to charges of having sexual intercourse with a child under 16 and assault.
Sheriff slams ‘regrettable culture’ in police
A sheriff has slammed the “regrettable culture” within the police after finding a serving officer guilty of assaulting a colleague while on duty.
Glen Chalmers, who was a court police officer based at Aberdeen Sheriff Court at the time, slapped a colleague across the head “as part of a joke”.
It also emerged during the trial that Chalmers, 47, made a sexist comment to a male colleague about a female sergeant, asking: “Where’s your lapdog?”
In finding Chalmers guilty, Sheriff David Harvie said that the assault, along with the comment, was “indicative of a regrettable culture” and was “cause for concern”.
English gang enforcer jailed
A north-east man who was being extorted over Snapchat had to leap from a window to escape a masked gang enforcer, who had travelled hundreds of miles up from England to chop him up.
Gang member Bailey Gore caught the train from Cheshire and turned up at his victim’s doorstep in Rosehearty following four days of chilling threats and repeated demands for £3,000.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told the 24-year-old – who has a previous conviction in England for battery and harassment – tried to kick down his victim’s door and threatened to blow up the house unless he handed over the cash.
Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAlister said Gore’s victim had been a member of a Snapchat group that posted information about Universal Credit and tax rebates.
Man jailed after failed drugs heist
The daring robbery of a £145,000 Aberdeen cannabis farm was foiled when neighbours chased the armed and masked raiders from the area.
Vytautas Dumasius was one of the gang members who plotted to rob the five-bedroom bungalow in Cove, which was being used to store nearly eight kilos of cannabis.
But the heist was stopped in its tracks when suspicious neighbours spotted balaclava-clad men – including one with a kitchen knife – crouching in a back garden.
The men fled the scene and the subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of the huge cannabis farm.
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Mum cleared of drink-driving crash
A Banchory mum who was found covered in mud and scratches has been acquitted of drink-driving after her Land Rover crashed off a road and overturned in a ditch.
Police were searching for Pamela Farquhar when she arrived home at 3.10am looking dishevelled and smelling of alcohol but she told them she was not the one who crashed her car through a road sign.
Giving evidence at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Mrs Farquhar admitted leaving her home at 2.15am to visit a friend’s house – but insisted she chose to walk through a forest rather than drive.
After a two-day trial, she was acquitted by Sheriff Morag Fraser on four charges, including driving while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident.
Abuser poured Southern Comfort in woman’s eyes
A violent domestic abuser poured Southern Comfort into his partner’s eyes and tried to strangle her.
Anthony Bains subjected the woman to five months of abuse during their brief relationship.
The 34-year-old even sought to blame his victim for his behaviour, telling her: “What do you expect when you give me attitude?”
As well as pouring alcohol into her eyes and choking her, Bains also threw an iron at the woman and shut her in a bedroom.
Neighbour cleared of causing death
A retired surgeon who had been accused of causing the death of his next-door neighbour has walked free from court after a jury decided that the case was not-proven.
Hamish Towler denied the culpable homicide of Inverness garage boss John Birrell, 55, who collapsed and died from a cardiac arrest following a violent confrontation on the road outside their homes.
Mr Towler, 66, admitted striking Mr Birrell with a dog lead during the incident, but told the court he had done so in self-defence after his neighbour approached him with “his fists raised” and landed “several blows”.
Over the course of a week-long High Court trial, a jury heard how Mr Towler and Mr Birrell had been involved in a long-running neighbourly dispute over matters like planning, access and drainage.
‘Lucky to be alive’ driver dons elaborate disguise at court
A careless driver was warned she’s “lucky to be alive” after part of a lamppost she crashed into fell through her sunroof and narrowly missed her head.
Lorraine Lobban donned a full disguise – including a change of clothes, wig and dark glasses – when she left court after admitting two offences.
The 62-year-old, who was found smelling of alcohol with an empty vodka bottle in the car, continued to drive after the crash on North Anderson Drive until another driver took her keys.
She admitted to police “I’ve been drink-driving”, but then refused to provide breath samples, arguing there was no point as she knew she was over the limit.
North police chief speaks out against misogyny and sexual misconduct
The north’s police chief has spoken out against misogyny and sexual misconduct, following the conviction of a Moray police officer who sexually assaulted a female colleague.
Herbert Scott Gallop, now retired, was placed on the sex offenders register after an investigation into a toxic “boys’ club” culture at Forres police station.
But only 54-year-old Gallop, who’d touch his victim’s bottom and elsewhere after being told to stop, has been prosecuted – despite allegations against six other officers.
Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond, the most senior officer responsible for policing across the north-east and Highlands and Islands, has welcomed Gallop’s conviction.
Metal thief caught after legs spotted dangling from classroom ceiling
A metal thief was caught dangling from a classroom ceiling after raiding an abandoned Aberdeenshire primary school to steal copper piping.
Piotr Bielesz caused damage worth “a high five-figure sum” at Inverurie’s Market Place Primary School when he broke in looking to make some “easy money”.
But the 39-year-old was caught out when an inspector and engineer checking the building spotted his legs dangling from a classroom ceiling.
Bielesz came down and fled through a fire exit before it was discovered he had caused extensive cosmetic and water damage by ripping out copper.
Drug-driver had no front tyres
A speeding drug-driver with no front tyres smashed into a barrier near Aberdeen International Airport while so intoxicated he couldn’t remember getting into the car.
Ryan Worsley sent sparks flying as he sped along a 20mph road near the airport before the crash brought his dangerous actions to a sudden halt.
The 34-year-old father was found by police still in the driver’s seat with the engine running – and no idea how he got there.
Fiscal depute Victoria Kerr told Aberdeen Sheriff Court police officers on patrol were flagged down by a taxi driver around 11.45pm on March 28 last year.
Disqualified teen driver sparked 100mph police chase
A teenager who was already disqualified from driving when he sparked a dangerous 100mph police chase through Aberdeen has been given another road ban.
Alan Tanc, who was 17 at the time of the offence, weaved into oncoming traffic as he made his getaway and tried to outrun police vehicles and a police motorbike on the west side of the city.
Officers were forced to abandon the chase over concerns about public safety as Tanc’s BMW sped away.
However, police caught up with Tanc, now 19, after he dumped the vehicle and tried to escape on foot through a back garden.
Jilted teen dumped after five dates
A jilted teenager who was dumped by a woman after five dates threatened to throw a brick through her window and told her “the police can’t do anything”.
Kian Crombie, 18, met the young woman via an online dating site but she soon halted the relationship over concerns about his behaviour.
But Crombie then began bombarding the woman with messages and calls, telling her she was a “s***” and that he was going to smash her window.
When she called the police, her abusive ex told her: “The police can’t do anything”.
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