A Moray man whose relationship problems fuelled a drunken rampage in Elgin was fined almost £400 at the town’s sheriff court yesterday.
Keiron Ritchie was on a pub crawl with a group of people on April 3, when struggles with an on-off relationship caused the party atmosphere to turn sour.
The 22-year-old, of 20 Reidhaven Street, Buckie, had been in various bars throughout the day with friends and work colleagues.
However, when they got to Zed Bar, their behaviour was deemed unacceptable and they were asked to leave.
Ritchie took exception to the request and kicked and damaged a door. Then went over to the fire exit and kicked it several times before his frustrations spilled out into the street where he punched the door leading to Max’s 2 takeaway, destroying a window.
Police arrived and searched Ritchie, finding two ecstasy pills he had bought for £10 each.
During a previous court appearance on April 30, Ritchie’s solicitor Matthew O’Neill told the court one of the girls in the group was an on-off girlfriend of Ritchie’s and that he had suspected her of being unfaithful.
Yesterday, Sheriff James Hendry sentenced Ritchie to a reduced fine of £198 following his early guilty plea. He was also ordered to pay an additional £200 to cover the damage caused to Max’s 2 window.
Sheriff Hendry said: “These were silly offences carried out either because you were drunk or because you were stupid, or both – an expensive night out, Mr Ritchie.”
