Here are nine stories you may have missed from Inverness Sheriff Court this week.
1) Inverness woman admonished after spending two weeks in jail in lead-up to drug dealing trial
A sheriff admonished an Inverness drug addict who had spent 17 days in custody awaiting trial on a dealing charge.
Police raided a property in Kilmuir Road in June last year and found 34-year-old Claire Potts with small quantities of heroin and cannabis.
They also discovered mobile phones, tablets, a “tick-list” of names and phone numbers commonly associated with dealers and plastic sandwich bags.
However Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Potts told detectives that the drugs belonged to her and she was a habitual user of heroin.
She denied being concerned in the supply of heroin but admitted possessing a small quantity of cannabis.
After two police officers gave evidence, her trial was initially adjourned until Thursday.
But defence lawyer Neil Wilson offered a plea of guilty to possessing the heroin.
It was accepted by fiscal depute Anna Robertson and Potts was recalled to the dock.
Sheriff Mark Thorley told Potts that since she had spent 17 days in custody, he would admonish her.
2) Inverness man bought drugs in bulk because “they were cheaper”
A man had sentence deferred for a background report at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting possessing £1,500 worth of drugs.
The court was told that police found Alexander Anderson, of Island Bank Road in Inverness, with 62.5g of cannabis, worth a maximum of £750, and a small amount of cocaine, in Old Edinburgh Road on September 15, 2015.
The 27-year-old also pleaded guilty to possessing 59g of cannabis, worth £750, on June 18, 2016, in a house in Assynt Road.
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans told Sheriff Margaret Neilson: “He bought the drugs in bulk because they were cheaper. They were for his personal use.
“He was self medicating for depression and anxiety. But now he is seeing various professionals and things are progressing well. He has stopped taking drugs.”
Anderson will re-appear on April 5
3) Man threatened to stab police officers when they arrived to arrest him
A man who admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in Highland Council’s service point offices in Inverness last November was jailed for three months yesterday.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 24-year-old Robert Hamilton, of North Methven Street in Perth, was already serving a prison sentence for dishonesty.
But Sheriff Margaret Neilson told him the sentence would be added to his present period of custody.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel told the court: “When police arrived to arrest him, he threatened to stab one of them.”
Defending, Willie Young said his client did not have a weapon with him and could remember little about the incident due to the alcohol he had consumed.
4) Inverness man fined after butting police officer on shoulder
A 27-year-old Inverness man who tried to butt a police constable but instead struck his shoulder was fined £400 yesterday.
Douglas Wright of Glendoe Terrace admitted the assault which occurred on April 18 last year when police tried to arrest him.
Wright also struggled as officers tried to place him in a police van, fiscal depute Ross Carvel said at t Inverness Sheriff Court.
5) Highland man banned from approaching ex-partner after alleged assaults
A Nairn man who was on bail for two alleged assaults on his partner and tried to contact her appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Steven Balchan, 41, of Wellington Road, had been remanded earlier this month for two breaches of special bail conditions at the start of February.
He re-appeared before Sheriff Margaret Neilson yesterday and pleaded guilty to both offences. His solicitor, Patrick O’Dea said it was likely that his client would resolve the assault charges later this week.
Sheriff Neilson told Balchan: “Bail conditions are not optional extras. They are serious offences but because you have served three weeks in custody, I will admonish you.”
However she reminded him that he was still subject to those special bail conditions not to approach or contact his ex partner until the other charges were resolved.
6) Police raided Highland man’s home and found class C drug
A 34-year-old heroin addict was given a morphine substitute by a friend to help him give up his habit, Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
But police raided Keith Walton’s home in Ord Terrace, Strathpeffer, and found 11 pills of the Class C drug.
He admitted illegal possession and sentence was deferred until April 5 for a background report because of his lengthy record of drug convictions.
Defence lawyer Duncan Henderson said his client was now on a prescription for buprenorphine.
7) Man assaulted partner after she dropped dumbbell on his phone
A man pushed his partner after she dropped a dumbbell on his mobile phone and smashed it, Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
Paul Innes, 40, of Creag Dubh Terrace, admitting assaulting June Philips in her home in Nairn on January 22 this year.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said: “An argument developed at her home and it became physical between them.
“He grabbed her by the body and pushed her. There was no injury.”
Defence solicitor Alison Foggo said: “He is deeply ashamed by his conduct. They weren’t living together but he stayed over sometimes at weekends.
“She was violent towards him, took his mobile phone and dropped a dumbbell on it, smashing it to smithereens.
“He retaliated instead of turning around and walking away. He sees no future in the relationship and does not want to see her again.
“It is unlikely this type of behaviour will be repeated in the future.”
Innes was fined £300.
8) Woman sped at 102mph on A96 road
A 24-year-old service adviser who drove at 102mph in a 60mph zone on the A96 at Gollanfield was fined £400 at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday.
Lisa Davidson, of Dochfour Drive in Inverness, admitted driving carelessly on April 18 last year.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson decided against disqualifying her from driving and instead endorsed her licence with eight penalty points.
9) Dingwall woman stole perfume from Inverness stores
A 38-year-old Dingwall woman who stole perfume from two Inverness stores had sentence deferred for six months for social work assistance.
Isobel MacAllister admitted the shoplifting offences earlier this month at Inverness Sheriff Court and a background report was called for.
The offences took place on August 16 in Debenham’s and Boots at Inverness Retail Park.
Defence agent Duncan Henderson said: “She is paying compensation of £10 a week to the stores and she assures me she will not repeat this.”
MacAllister, of Burns Crescent, will re-appear on August 31 and Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood told her to have receipts for the compensation with her.
