Here are four stories you may have missed from Inverness Sheriff Court this week.
1) Inverness woman facing prison after third drink-driving offence
A 47-year-old Inverness woman is facing a jail sentence for her third drink driving offence.
Avril Mackenzie, of Pumpgate Court, pleaded guilty at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday to being almost five times the legal limit on February 22.
The court heard that police had received a tip-off from a member of the public concerned about her driving.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood noted that Mackenzie was due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on a similar offence.
Defence solicitor Chris Munro confirmed that his client would be pleading guilty.
The Sheriff added; “She has two similar offences committed within a short time and another coming up. I have quite firm views on someone who commits three drink driving offences.”
He deferred sentence until April 13 to await the outcome of the Glasgow case.
2) Man, 68, racially abused young girl while out shopping
A 68 year old man who racially abused a young girl who had gone shopping with her mother was fined £400 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Francis Reid of St John’s Avenue, Inverness was drunk when he entered Dalneigh Stores on St Margaret’s Road on January 31 this year.
He admitted uttering offensive remarks to the pair who rushed out of the shop in tears.
Defence lawyer Marc Dicksn said his client was a vulnerable person who rarely left his home other than go to the shop.
Mr Dickson added that Reid had a regular support worker and had no recollection of the incident because he was intoxicated.
“He wrote a letter of apology to the shop and to the customers within 24 hours.” Mr Dickson went on.
3) Highland man banned from the roads for four years after second drink-driving offence
A 30 year old Grantown on Spey man was banned from driving for four years and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work after admitting his second drink driving offence.
Iain Steven of Old Spey Bridge pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred on the A95 in Grantown on February 2 this year.
He was four times the legal limit.
4) Inverness man attacked wife after she woke him up
A 56-year-old Inverness man was fined £400 for “behaving like a drunken bully” towards his second wife.
At the city’s Sheriff Court yesterday, James Fraser, of Pumpgate Street, admitted assaulting his partner by pushing her on the body, spitting on her and striking her on the head to her injury on February 19 this year.
The court heard she sustained a cut ear.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said the couple were watching TV and Fraser was drinking heavily.
“His wife went to bed and when she checked him in the early hours, he was sleeping on the sofa. She woke him so he could go to bed and he became enraged.”
Defence solicitor Aileen Macinnes said: “She completed an online reporting form but a little time later completed another one retracting what she said.
“This is his second marriage and the couple had recent contact. There is an intention for the marriage to continue.”
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood told Fraser: “If you want to behave like a drunken bully, I am happy to treat you like one.”
