A former social worker who was found guilty of intimidating an Inverness trader has had his sentence deferred because of medical concerns.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Archie Beaton, 51, would be unable to pay a fine and existing medical concerns might prevent him from undertaking a community payback order.
Beaton, of 93 Mackintosh Road, was found guilty earlier this year of walking aggressively towards High Street trader Kim Avis and a 12-year-old girl in the city centre and uttering a racial remark between September 2012 and November 2013.
But appearing yesterday, the court heard that Beaton would have difficulty complying with the possible sentences.
Defence agent Diane Macfarlane said that Beaton would be unable to pay a fine because of his low income, adding that her client had a unpaid fine of £250 from a previous court appearance in 2013.
Ms Macfarlane added that Beaton had a “history of ill-health linked to depression” meaning that he would struggle with supervision under a community payback order.
Ms Macfarlane was unable to present any medical evidence to the court and Sheriff Margaret Neilson deferred sentence for a doctor’s report into Beaton to be carried out.
The court previously heard at Beaton’s trial that he had harboured a three-year grudge against Mr Avis after he asked him, “Do you like Viking helmets?”.
Beaton took exception to the question because he thought it was referring to his Norseman appearance, it was said at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Matters came to a head when Beaton uttered an offensive racial remark at trader Kim Avis on Inverness High Street.
Mr Avis told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that ever since the Viking question, he was frequently intimidated by Beaton, who on one occasion called him “a gypsy”.
Mr Avis in evidence described Beaton as “a powder keg ready to explode” on the many occasions he saw him walking down High Street where he has a jewellery stall.
He added: “I genuinely felt there was a threat of violence towards me.
Mr Avis denied he had ever been threatening to Beaton, or had challenged him to fight.
Correction: This story originally stated Mr Beaton had admitted intimidating an Inverness trader. However, he was found guilty at trial after pleading not guilty. We are happy to clarify the matter.
