A £60,000 a year offshore oil worker who frightened his neighbours when he turned up at their door armed with a knife avoided a jail sentence yesterday.
But Sheriff Margaret Neilson warned 25-year-old Connor Williamson: “I hope this has been a wake up call for you. It would be a great pity if you threw all you have achieved away.”
She ordered that he remain under social work supervision for a year and to carry out 240 hours of unpaid community work as an alternative to custody.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Williamson was highly valued by his employers and was set for a “once in a lifetime” promotion if he was not jailed, his lawyer Clare Russell said.
However she added he almost blew his chances when “personal and stressful issues” drove him to drink and drugs in January last year.
At an earlier hearing, Williamson, now of King Street, Inverness, went to the door of his then neighbours in Telford Court to ask a question.
But when the knife was spotted, he put his foot in the door to prevent it being shut.
He admitted behaving in an abusive and threatening manner, presenting a knife and uttering threats. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear for an earlier hearing.
Sentence was deferred for preparation of a background report until yesterday.
Ms Russell added: “He had personal difficulties at the time as well as a stressful period at work and consumed alcohol and illicit substances to excess.
“He has little recollection of the incident but in his confused and disinhibited state, he thought that the previous residents were still there.”
Sheriff Neilson commented: “I can’t understand why someone with such a good job and salary would risk it all through his consumption of drink and drugs.”
