Our reporters have been sitting in courtrooms across the north and north-east this week and covered a wide variety of cases.
Woman called her twin sisters ‘fat’
A woman with a “fractious relationship” with her twin sisters called them fat and then tried to fight them.
Julie-Ann Logan had already been ordered by the court to keep away from her siblings but wound up hurling abuse at them in the street and attempted to pull them from a garden in Keith.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard how Logan acted threateningly towards the family members at 2.45pm on July 17 last year as she walked through Den Crescent in Keith.
Police swoop on masked ‘gunman’
A Halloween mask-wearing man sparked a huge armed police response after a bank worker spotted a gun in his rucksack outside her branch.
Donnie Heanan was rummaging through his bag in the doorway of the Royal Bank of Scotland on Union Street when the weapon was spotted in a cardboard box.
Fearing for public safety, the staff member phoned the police, who swooped on Heanan as he walked along George Street.
No punishment for woman who assaulted bouncer
A woman who tried to punch an Aberdeen nightclub bouncer after accusing them of letting in underagers has escaped punishment.
Nichole Bonner approached bouncers outside Priory on Belmont Street just before midnight and began accusing them of allowing underage people inside the venue.
But when they tried to ignore her and asked her to leave, the 24-year-old flew into a rage and started shouting and swearing.
When Bonner threw an unsuccessful punch toward one of the bouncers she was restrained to the ground.
Domestic abuser’s attack captured on doorbell camera
A man who attacked his partner was arrested after the assault was captured on a neighbour’s video doorbell.
Edward Hughes lunged at the woman and tore out clumps of her hair after she took longer than expected running an errand.
But a neighbour at the address on Royal Walk, Nairn, spotted the incident on their Ring doorbell and notified police.
American tourist caught drink-driving
An American holidaymaker whose driving drew police attention on the A96 was more than four times the drink-drive limit.
Monica Hunolt, 40, had been partying in Nairn when her lift home fell through and she decided to drive back to Inverness.
The tourist, from North Carolina, felt she had “no alternative” but to drive, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
Police delivery driver caught with indecent images of children
A former police delivery driver has been jailed after he was caught in a sting by paedophile hunters.
Stephen Thomson, 46, communicated with at least two decoys, who he thought were underage girls, and also shared indecent images of children with other paedophiles.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that when police raided Thomson’s then home in the city they found scores of indecent images of children on his devices and extreme pornographic videos that involved women having sex with animals.
Woman was SIXTEEN times the cocaine limit
A woman has been banned from the roads after she was found to be 16 times the cocaine limit while driving from Dundee to Aberdeen.
Mary Cruickshank, also known as Sim, was stopped in her black Volkswagen by police on the A90 after travelling the 44-mile journey from Tayside to Drumlithie, near Stonehaven.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 51-year-old’s driving aroused the suspicion of officers who tested her at the roadside.
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Man caught with Aberdeen-bound suitcase packed with 7kg of cannabis
A man caught with a suitcase full of cannabis and a ticket to travel to Aberdeen has been jailed.
Mahn Van Phan, of Sylvan Road in London, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis with intent to supply following a British Transport Police investigation.
He was stopped by plain clothes officers from BTP’s County Lines Taskforce as he strolled through Birmingham New Street station in May last year.
Dad blames spiked drink for terrifying behaviour
An out-of-control dad who terrified his family and attacked two police officers blames his “completely inconceivable” behaviour on a spiked drink.
Russell Goldie barged into his former family home in Westhill and left his estranged wife and children so terrified they had to barricade themselves in a bathroom.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that when police turned up to help rescue his family the 40-year-old father-of-three attacked the officers and had to be pepper sprayed.
Man slashed with kitchen knife
A man was left with a two-inch gash on his face after being slashed in an unprovoked attack as he stood outside his flat having a cigarette.
Clay Craig, 26, lashed out with a pink kitchen knife, slashing his victim across the face at flats on Kincorth Circle.
The man was left lying on the concrete with blood pouring from a wound on his cheek while Craig fled the scene with his father.
It could have been murder
A man has been told he was lucky not to be on a murder charge after throwing a bottle at his partner causing a skull fracture and blood clot on her brain.
Connor Scobbie flung the bottle at the woman during an argument, causing her to fall over and strike her head on the stairs.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that a specialist who treated Scobbie’s victim said she was “fortunate to be still alive”.
Pensioner accused of abducting sheriff and threatening First Minister
A pensioner has gone on trial accused of abducting a sheriff in Aberdeenshire and threatening First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
William Curtis, 70, along with 60-year-old Philip Mitchell, are both charged with attacking Sheriff Robert McDonald on June 29 2021 – allegations the pair deny.
The incident is said to have happened in St Mary’s car park next to Banff Sheriff Court where Sheriff McDonald presides.
Terminally ill paedophile wants to be spared jail
A paedophile caught with hundreds of indecent images of children could be spared a jail sentence after a court was told he has less than a year to live.
Former NHS psychiatric nurse Duncan Trueland is facing at least 12 months behind bars and would likely die of bladder cancer in prison if he was jailed.
His solicitor urged an Aberdeen sheriff to allow his client to serve out his sentence in the community so he could resume chemotherapy and be with his wife.
Masked gunman in stab vest and helmet seen on Aberdeen street
A man sparked an armed police response after neighbours spotted him roaming the streets carrying two guns while dressed in a black helmet, mask and stab vest.
Ian Jolly was pacing back and forth clutching what looked like a handgun and rifle when concerned members of the public spotted him outside their homes.
The 48-year-old was actually carrying an airsoft BB rifle and a BB handgun but a firearms incident was declared and officers swooped on the scene.
Couple attacked Wetherspoon’s manager and police officers
A couple who kicked off with police after being refused service in a Fort William pub have been ordered to complete unpaid work in the community.
Robert Maclean had already assaulted the bar manager at The Great Glen pub and been placed in a police car when his girlfriend, Melissa Stewart, began struggling with officers, punching one in the face.
He then smashed his way out of the vehicle shouting “I’m going to f***ing kill yous!” before headbutting and biting a female officer.
The pair appeared for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Sex offender back behind bars after having sex with 15-year-old girl
A registered sex offender is back behind bars after he had sex with another underage girl.
Connor Ferries, 25, was barred from having any contact with children under 16 after he was convicted of having sex with a 14-year-old after a High Court rape trial in 2021.
On that occasion, he was sentenced to 33 months in jail but was released immediately having spent time on remand since October 2019.
‘Gentle giant’ in dock after losing temper with charity cyclists
An angry camping park owner has found himself in court after he lost the plot with charity cyclists who had set up camp in his garden.
Graham Hay, who owns Feughside Caravan Park, clashed with the campers after they pitched up in the middle of the night in his private garden – despite clear signage.
The 49-year-old – who was described as a “gentle giant” – lifted their tent off the ground to wake the sleeping campers and then threatened to drag them out.
Shoplifter fell asleep in dock
A man fell asleep in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court as he was fined £110 for stealing a £9 bottle of wine from Tesco.
Stewart Sangster’s “fairly foolish” attempt at shoplifting was captured by the CCTV cameras at Tesco Express on Union Street in Aberdeen.
The wine, valued at just under £9, was recovered but ended up costing Sangster far more than if he’d simply purchased it legally.
‘Nee naw, nee naw’: Prisoner’s text to ex as her new man’s car burned
A prisoner who arranged for his ex’s new partner’s car to be set on fire text her “nee naw, nee naw” as it burned.
William Christie was on remand in HMP Barlinnie when he fell out with the woman over family arrangements.
He then made threats against her and her partner, including that he would arrange to have the man shot and burn his car.
Weeks later two unidentified people walked up to the man’s Mercedes and set it alight.
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Woman on trial accused of endangering child
A woman has gone on trial accused of causing a child unnecessary suffering by making him go through “unnecessary” operations.
Tracy Anne Menhinick, a former auxiliary nurse, is facing a charge of wilful ill-treatment towards the boy between April 1 2014 and July 21 2017.
The child – who cannot be identified – was aged between three and six at the time.
Menhinick, 51, went on trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.
Eagle-eyed postal staff spot cocaine package
Sorting office staff and sniffer dogs scuppered a drug dealer after they intercepted a parcel of cocaine worth more than £23,000.
Police were called to Dingwall sorting office in May 2021 after staff identified a suspicious package addressed to Daniel Stewart.
Sniffer dogs were brought in and the package was opened by officers who found cocaine vacuum-packed in plastic and wrapped in clothing.
Reveller knocked out victim’s teeth
A drunken reveller who punched a man in an Aberdeen bar knocked out four of his victim’s teeth.
Scott Walker had been on a double date earlier in the day but ended up drinking by himself in Dusk on Langstane Place in the early hours of the morning.
And when a row broke out between him and another man, Walker, 28, lashed out, punching the man in the face.
Morrisons worker embezzled cigarettes and cash
A Banchory supermarket worker has admitted to embezzling cigarettes and money from his workplace.
David Stewart was working as a customer services assistant at the town’s Morrisons when employers became aware of stock discrepancies totalling more than £22,000.
Appearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court the 54-year-old admitted to embezzling both cigarettes and money totalling £760 from the store while working there between July 1 and July 27 last year.
Cruel ex sent intimate pictures of teenager to workplace
A nursery worker whose ex-boyfriend sent intimate photos to colleagues in an effort to get her fired has spoken about the “horrific and humiliating” experience.
Scott MacLeod, 33, pretended to be a concerned member of the public when he emailed the images and video to the Aberdeenshire nursery and threatened to tell others about what he called “inappropriate acts”.
Thankfully, the nursery staff saw straight through his cruel lies and MacLeod has now appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted disclosing intimate pictures and video without consent.
Boat hire pair fined £10,000 over ‘heartbreaking’ death
The owners of an Argyle and Bute boat company have been fined £10,000 after they admitted that their health and safety failures led to a man’s death.
Clifford Davies, 64, and Janet Lightbown, 57, who are the joint owners of Loch Awe Boats, were each ordered to pay £5,000 over the health and safety breach at Oban Sheriff Court.
The incident saw three men thrown into the water as their hire-boat capsized on the loch during high winds.
One of the men, Kieran Cowan, drowned as he desperately tried to swim back to shore.
Attack victim developed epilepsy
A joiner has been ordered to pay compensation after he attacked and punched a man in Aberdeen who was later diagnosed with epilepsy.
Aaron Sheran, 23, was out drinking with friends in the centre of the city when a fight started on Justice Mill Lane involving half a dozen people.
Seeing his friend involved in the struggle, Sheran stormed in and punched one man, who fell to the ground with a bloodied face.
Student struck police officer with flare
A student who struck a police officer with a lit flare in Dundee has dodged a football banning order.
Sports science student Myles Rae, 18, told a court he caught the smoking flare himself, before re-launching it into a crowd of fans.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told the incident happened when Rae got caught up in a group of older Aberdeen supporters during a fracas between rival fans outside a pub.
Paedophile jailed for preying on six-year-old girl
A sexual predator who photographed and molested a young girl has been jailed for five years after a catalogue of child abuse.
Peter Clegg, 71, preyed on the girl from when she was aged just six years old at places in Orkney.
A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You subjected her to a wide range of sexual assaults.”
Drug courier caught with £88,000 of heroin and cash
A Liverpudlian drug courier who was caught with cash and drugs totalling more than £88,000 is facing a prison term.
Joseph Chandler had £61,000 of heroin and almost £27,000 in cash hidden within supermarket bags when police searched a car in the Bridge of Don.
The drugs haul was discovered after police observed the 32-year-old carrying out a drug deal on Balgownie Drive on March 6 2020, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Woman punched ex when he called her ‘toxic’
An unemployed bar worker punched her former partner in the face after he branded her “toxic” during an encounter at an Inverness nightspot.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 22-year-old Aine Macdonald reacted when her ex made the remarks.
Fiscal depute Emma MacEwan said the incident happened in the Caledonian Bar on June 25 2022 after the two had met by chance while socialising with friends.
Deadly heart condition led to tractor driver’s river drowning
A deadly heart condition caused a man to lose control of his tractor and plunge into the River Ythan where he drowned, an inquiry has concluded.
Steven Redpath, 48, died after becoming trapped under the submerged vehicle near Quarry Brae Cottage, Auchedly – between Ythanbank and Methlick – on May 27 2021.
The landscaper and gardener was cutting grass opposite the river on land managed by Haddo House Angling Club at the time of the deadly accident.
Drunk boyfriend assaulted partner
A repeat offender is facing jail after he drunkenly assaulted his girlfriend after a memorial event to remember his late sister.
John Easson, 32, slapped the woman so hard across the face that her tooth came loose after he first accused her of cheating on him, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Fiscal depute Carol Gammie said the couple had been in an on-off relationship for seven years when the incident happened at 4.30pm on October 18 2022.
Drink-driving courier swerved into traffic
A drink-driving courier was five times the alcohol limit when he swerved into oncoming traffic forcing another car to take evasive action.
Delivery driver Andrej Bartko was then spotted “staggering” from his van outside his house.
When officers arrived to arrest him he was so unsteady on his feet that they had to help him into the police vehicle.
119mph driver was showing off to friends
A man who was caught driving at almost 120mph on a busy north-east road was showing off to friends, a court has been told.
Lewis Forrester, 30, was stopped after police spotted his Black Audi S3 speeding along the A92 between Blackdog and Ellon with other passengers in the car.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Forrester’s vehicle was clocked at 119mph in a 70mph zone.
Bus passenger attacked driver
A drunk bus passenger demanded his fare be returned after he claimed to have fallen over on the journey – and then assaulted the driver when he was refused.
Steven Shepherd boarded the Stagecoach service in Tain and travelled to Dingwall before remonstrating with the driver.
When his demands were denied he leaned in the bus window and slapped the driver before chasing and striking the bus as it drove off.
Hibs fans accused over violent clash
Two Hibs fans have appeared in court accused of forming part of a mob of “evilly disposed” people who caused “great terror” outside an Aberdeen pub.
Police were called to a large disturbance outside the Butchers Arms pub on George Street as groups of rival fans clashed in the street.
The incident happened ahead of a football match between Aberdeen and Hibernian at Pittodrie on Friday November 4 – which the Dons went on to win comfortably 4-1.
Man’s apologetic texts after glassing workmate on night out
A man glassed a workmate in the head on a night out and then sent him a string of apologetic text messages.
Daniel McEleny’s colleague was left with a cut to his ear that required surgery following the assault at an Inverness pub.
Afterwards, he received texts from his attacker saying: “I’m so sorry”, “I have a short fuse” and “I’m such an idiot”.
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