Here is a round-up of stories you may have missed this week from Inverness Sheriff Court.
1. Aberdeen man was “crucial link” in heroin supply chain
An Aberdeen man was jailed for 18 months at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting possessing heroin with intent to supply at Castle Hill House, Culloden last year.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood heard Stephen Scott, 33, of Powis Crescent had two previous similar convictions.
He admitted the offence which was committed on September 7 last year and had been remanded in custody awaiting sentence.
The court heard that Scott’s record was indicative of a man who has been addicted to drugs most of his adult life.
Sheriff Fleetwood told Scott given his record, custody was inevitable.
“I accept he was transporting drugs which were not his. But he was a crucial link in the supply chain.”
The sentence was backdated to September 27.
2. Inverness man struck another with glass object
An Inverness man who struck a pub customer with a glass object after an argument between their two girlfriends will be sentenced next month.
Paul Mackintosh, 29, of Dalneigh Road, admitted a charge of assault to injury which occurred in The Den on Bank Street on August 9, last year.
Fiscal depute Fraser Matheson said: “One girl bumped into another and there was an argument. Mr Mackintosh struck the other man with a bottle or glass when he intervened.
“It smashed on his head, leaving him with a 1cm laceration. Mackintosh also cut his hand and fingers and both were bleeding heavily.
“But only the accused needed stitches. When detained, he told police: ‘I am sorry. I take full responsibility.”
Sentence was deferred until November 17 for a background report.
3. Inverness man jailed for ‘resetting car’
A 39-year-old Inverness man was jailed for 60 days after admitting the reset of a car which had been stolen from Nevis Place in Inverness.
Stephen McGarry, Telford Street appeared for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after it had been deferred for a background report.
The incident took place on December 26, 2014 when a woman was disturbed by her dog barking.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that McGarry getting into a car with another man who drove away.
Fiscal depute Fraser Matheson said: “They were followed by the woman’s partner who found the car off the road, He then saw them walking along a footpath and contacted the police.
“It emerged that the car had been stolen.”
4. Brothers went to pub, stole key and later returned planning to rob it
A have-a-go hotelier tried to restrain one of two brothers who had broken into his Nairn premises.
Dressed in slippers and dressing gown, Brackla Hotel owner Andrew Brown rushed into the bar after being disturbed by Kyle Brandie, 26, and his 22-year-old brother Ryan in the early hours of October 30 last year.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood described it as “a fairly robust response”.
Yesterday, Kyle, of Millburn Road, and Ryan of Assynt Road, both Inverness, admitted stealing a key, breaking into the hotel with intent to steal and assaulting Mr Brown. Both also admitted previous convictions.
Fiscal depute Fraser Matheson said: “The two brothers were in the pub and took the opportunity of stealing a key.
“They returned later and CCTV filmed them entering and then Mr Brown coming in dressed in his dressing gown and slippers.”
Defending Kyle, solicitor Neil Wilson said his client had never served a prison sentence before and was already on a community payback order.
“A background report will be required but he is prepared for the worst.”
Defending Ryan, Shahid Latif added: “My client is realistic enough to know what awaits him.”
Continuing their bail, Sheriff Fleetwood said: “Imprisonment is still uppermost in the court’s mind.
“This was a break-in to commercial premises with intent to steal and your reaction when disturbed is disturbing.”
5. Highland man swallowed drugs after police searched partner’s house
A 21-year-old Alness man who admitted obstructing police by trying to swallow drugs found in his girlfriend’s home was jailed for 14 months at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Craig Hayden, of Firhill, Alness, appeared before Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood who had deferred sentence for a background report last month.
Fiscal Roderick Urquhart said that police got a tip-off and searched Hayden’s partner’s house in Kirkside, Alness on November 15 last year.
“As the constables entered the property one of them ran upstairs where he found Hayden with three packages in his hand, struggling with the window blind.
“The constable shouted for help, grabbed Hayden and pulled him back onto a bed. Hayden placed one of the packages in his mouth and while the constables struggled with him and attempted to prevent him swallowing it, it burst.
“The other two bags also became torn and the contents of all three were partially strewn across the bed, bed frame, bedroom floor and over Hayden and the constables’ faces and clothing.
“He later told police “I was bullied into it”; “A quarter ounce is mine; I was bullied into taking the rest”; “How long will I get for this?”; and “What prison will I go to?”
The brown powder was later found to be heroin with a potential value of between £2,640 and £8,340, the court heard.
Sheriff Fleetwood said there was no alternative other than a jail sentence because of the amount of drugs involved.
“You chose to go into dealing with class A drugs with your eyes open, knowing full well the consequences.
“You were caught and you will feel the full force of the law.”
