Here are four stories you may have missed from Inverness Sheriff Court this week.
1. Highland man lied to ex-partner and told her he had been doused in petrol
A Ross-shire landscape gardener who sent menacing text and photo messages to his ex-partner was fined £150 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
James Amos, 28, of Springfield, Tain, pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred on February 17 this year.
The court was told he had sent the messages to Lindsey Gordon, claiming he had been dowsed in petrol and beaten up by people who were coming to look for her. The images were of burn injuries apparently to his chest, the court heard.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said: “He claimed he had been assaulted protecting her from others. When he was interviewed by police, he was candid and admitted he had made it all up.”
Defence solicitor Neil Wilson said: “He is thoroughly ashamed and embarrassed by this. It was childish, foolish and petulant.
“There is little prospect of the relationship being resurrected as she is on bail for an alleged assault on him. He has now moved on.”
2) Nairn man pretended to force his foot had been run over by police car
A 24-year-old Nairn man who falsely claimed that his foot had been run over by a police car was fined £150 at Inverness Sheriff Curt yesterday.
Gavin Hutcheon, of Elizabeth Street, admitted giving a police call taker a false name and address and wasting police time by causing officers to investigate the claim.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said that Hutcheon had previously had “interaction” with officers and made the claim in three calls in the early hours of November 29, 2015.
He added: “The fortunate thing was the police did not waste a huge amount of time on it as it was relatively obvious who it was making the call.”
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said: “He can’t explain why he did it and he used his own mobile phone to make the calls.
“He is ashamed of doing it and apologises.”
3) Highland woman was four times the alcohol limit when she crashed with police car
A 51-year-old Aviemore woman who collided with a police car had more than four times the permitted alcohol in her system.
Karen Potts, now living at Castle Terrace, Dumbarton, pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred in Grampian Road, on October 22, 2016. She was fined £300 and banned from driving for a year.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that she had two children in the car at the time of the collision.
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans said his client’s relationship was breaking down at the time and “she was suffering from depression.”
4) Man fined after admitting assaulting female security officer at Inverness pub
A shop fitter working in Inverness who had an altercation with a door steward at a popular city nightspot was fined £600 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
David Thomas, 33, of Dorset Road, Stockton-on-Tees, admitted assaulting the female security officer at Johnny Foxes on November 4, 2016 by pinning her up against a wall and placing his forearm against her throat.
