Here are five stories you may have missed from Inverness Sheriff Court this week.
1) Man doused himself with petrol outside Inverness hospital
A man who doused himself with petrol in an Inverness hospital car park was jailed for two years yesterday.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Lee Ryan, a 31-year-old unemployed man who was described as a Kilmarnock prisoner, did not have a mental illness.
Sheriff David Sutherland accepted Ryan had “some difficulties”.
But he said because of Ryan’s record and the nature of the offences, which included threatening people with a hammer, there was no alternative to custody.
Ryan admitted behaving in a threatening manner at Blackpark Filling Station on February 27 this year, where he wanted to buy petrol.
The court heard police were alerted and Ryan was eventually traced to New Craigs Hospital.
Fiscal depute Michelle Molley said that four constables went to the scene.
“The accused opened the top of the petrol can and began to douse himself in petrol. He then waved the hammer in the air shouting he would hit any officer who came near him,” she said.
“There was clearly a risk to life and members of the public were escorted from the area.
“He said he wanted help in regards to his mental health and a staff nurse came out of the building and encouraged him to drop the hammer and assisted him out of his petrol-soaked clothes.”
Ten minutes later, the police had Ryan under control.
Defence solicitor Patrick O’Dea said: “My client wants to apologise to the members of staff and police who put themselves in jeopardy to assist him.
“It was never his intention to cause difficulty for anyone else except himself.
“He was in a very difficult and desperate place that day.”
2) Inverness teenager admits breaking into two homes
A 17-year-old from Inverness who broke into two houses will be sentenced on July 4.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted breaking into two houses in the Culduthel area of the city between the end of July last year and August 15.
He stole jewellery worth more than £7,000 from one property after ransacking it while the owners were on holiday.
He then forced open the kitchen window of another nearby house and stole a tin with £1,500 in cash savings in it.
Defending, Shahid Latif said he would reserve his comments until sentencing.
3) Highland woman denies disfiguring another with a glass
A 54-year-old woman yesterday denied permanently disfiguring another woman with a glass at a city hotel last October.
Deborah Morren, of Broadbrae, Muir of Ord, pleaded not guilty to two charges when she appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Both incidents are said to have taken place at the Drumossie Hotel on October 30.
The first charge alleges that she conducted herself in a disorderly manner and shouted at people.
The second charge accuses her of assaulting Gail MacDonald by throwing the contents of a glass at her and striking her on the head with the glass to her severe injury, permanent disfigurement and impairment.
Morren was represented by solicitor advocate Shahid Latif who said that there were ongoing negotiations for “a potential resolution”.
Morren will next appear on June 6.
4) Inverness man admits supplying heroin
A 26-year-old Inverness drug dealer will be sentenced on July 4 after a background report has been prepared.
Ewen Sweeney, of Kingsmills Road, appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted being concerned in the supply of 48.7g of heroin with a maximum street value of £4,150 at his former home in Anderson Street.
The offence took place on May 22, 2015, when police raided the property and found bags of the class A narcotic, drug paraphernalia and £960 in cash.
His bail was continued.
5) Highland man injured party-goer with knife
An Easter Ross man who injured a party-goer with a knife in an Alness house was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work yesterday.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard at an earlier hearing that Aaron Watson was “wrecked” after drinking, and told guests he felt suicidal.
Depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart told Sheriff David Sutherland that the 20-year-old was asked to leave by the householder, Shaun McGowan.
Watson, of Teandallon Place, Evanton, left the house but returned and Mr Urquhart said there were different accounts of what followed.
He was seen removing a knife from a block in the kitchen and swinging it about.
“Although (Watson) was not making threats to anyone and his intention was unclear Shaun McGowan believed he was in danger.
“He reached out for the knife with his left hand and seized the back of the knife in an attempt to force it downwards and out of (Watson’s) control. In the struggle that ensued Shaun McGowan sustained a 5cm, 1cm deep cut to the palm of his left hand and minor cuts to the tip of his index finger.”
While Mr McGowan was taken upstairs to have his injuries tended Watson was seen to cut himself twice on the forearm before being disarmed by other party goers.
Watson was originally charged with assaulting Mr McGowan on July 2 but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge that he struggled with him culpably and recklessly struck him while holding the knife to his injury.
Sentence had been deferred until yesterday for a background report.
Defending, Shahid Latif told Sheriff David Sutherland: “It was not his intention to hurt anyone that night.”
