Here’s five stories you may have missed from Inverness Sheriff Court this week.
1. Pensioner overtook HGV on A96, nearly crashed head-on into police car
A police car had to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision after a retired mechanic overtook an HGV lorry on the A96.
Yesterday, Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 74 year-old John Ramsay of Harbour Street, Nairn pulled out to overtake the lorry on a straight near the Norbord factory at Morayhill on March 22.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said Ramsay continued the overtake, causing the police vehicle to pull into the side to avoid a collision.
Ramsay admitted driving carelessly and was fined £300. His licence, which had been clean for 56 years, was endorsed with three penalty points.
2. Drunk Highland man shouted “Heil Hitler” at Highland’s biggest hospital
A drunk Dingwall man shocked patients and staff at the Highland’s biggest hospital when he began shouting ‘Heil Hitler’ from his ward bed.
Yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court, 50-year-old George Brodie of Strathpeffer Road admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Raigmore Hospital on September 15 and making offensive remarks and gestures.
He was jailed for three months.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told Sheriff David Sutherland that Brodie was in hospital as a consequence of his alcohol consumption.
“When he woke in ward 6a, he became abusive and was shouting ‘Heil Hitler’ and other insults about the police.
“He repeatedly claimed he had killed hundreds of people and disposed of their bodies in suitcases.” Mr Weir went on.
Brodie was later arrested.
Defending, Neil Wilson told the court his client expected a jail sentence.
“He was drunk and accepts his behaviour was unacceptable.”
The Sheriff told Brodie: “Someone who behaves in this manner in a hospital must face a custodial sentence. The court has to ensure staff and patients are kept safe and not be subjected to behaviour like this.”
3. Highland man grew cannabis plant in wardrobe at parent’s home
A 33-year-old Grantown-on-Spey man who grew a cannabis plant in a wardrobe of his parent’s house was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid community work yesterday.
Christopher Mackenzie, Woodburn Place, admitted producing a controlled drug in the property in Craigie Avenue, Boat of Garten, on August 15. He also admitted previous convictions.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said it was accepted that the cannabis was for his own use.
4. Teenager struggled violently with police as they tried to arrest him outside takeaway
A teenage first offender was fined £250 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting struggling violently with police officers outside a city take-away.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said that 18 year old Billy Jensen, Canal Court, Dingwall, was one of a number of people involved in an altercation outside McDonald’s on the High Street on June 12.
“He pushed an officer in the chest and then struggled violently as they tried to arrest him.”
Jensen pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and obstructing police.
5. Highland man overtook cars causing them to take evasive action
An 82 year old Beauly man overtook two vehicles at a traffic light controlled bridge near the village because he had received a call from his son who was feeling unwell, a court heard.
But Percival Chappell was reported to police by other motorists after crossing the Lovat Bridge on February 14 this year.
Chappell, of Station Road, was originally charged with dangerous driving.
But at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, his guilty plea was accepted to a reduced charge of careless driving by driving at excessive speed and causing other vehicles to take evasive action.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said Chappell had pulled up behind a car just as the lights were changing and because he was in a hurry he overtook the first vehicle.
Chappell told police he hadn’t noticed the other car in front and continued with the manoeuvre because he thought he could get through.
Marc Dickson, solicitor, said his client had received a telephone call from his ill son who had parked his own vehicle and needed to be picked up.
Sheriff David Sutherland fined him £200 and his licence was endorsed with three penalty points.
