A Moray man has appeared in court after a digger crashed into a sheltered housing complex.
Gregor Durno, from Buckie, has been charged with a series of road traffic offences following the weekend incident.
Huge holes were left in the side of the building, which is owned by Ark Housing Association, after the construction vehicle became embedded in the wall.
Yesterday, the 30-year-old, appeared in private at Elgin Sheriff Court after being arrested by police following the incident on Land Street in Buckpool.
Durno faces charges of alleged dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, taking a vehicle without authority, failing to stop after an accident and driving with no insurance.
He has also been charged with possessing a shotgun without having the certificates authorising him to do so, as well as an offence relating to the welfare of animals.
Durno made no plea or declaration during the court appearance, had his case committed for further examination and was released on bail.
Assessors and structural engineers have been at the building this week to determine the safety of the remaining building, which contains four supported accommodation homes.
Maintenance crews have now boarded up the block of flats to secure the building. The road remained closed last night while inspections continued at the property.
Moray Council has confirmed that two of their tenants who stayed in the building are currently in temporary accommodation. Nobody was injured in the incident.
A spokesman added: “The council is content at this stage that Ark staff are doing all that is required, our only involvement is likely to be further into the process.
“This could be in an advisory capacity, for planning issues or when permits for temporary closure of part of the carriageway may be required.”
Police were called to the incident after neighbours said they were woken by a “loud bang” at about 5am on Sunday morning.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Ark Housing Assocation declined to comment while a police investigation into the incident continued.
