A football fan could face a jail sentence after throwing a flare on to the pitch at a crunch Highland derby.
Brian Emslie was filmed throwing a pyrotechnic on to the pitch at Victoria Park during the Scottish Premiership clash in Dingwall on April 28.
The 21-year-old was among close to 5,000 people who attended the game, which Ross County won 4-0 to leave rivals Caley Thistle on the brink of relegation.
Police reported a number of misdemeanours at the fixture, and Emslie was identified and traced after the stadium’s CCTV footage was reviewed.
When he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Margaret Neilson told Emslie: “I deem this charge to be extremely serious.”
It was the second consecutive day that the sheriff had warned Emslie, of Evan Barron Road in Inverness, of the possible consequences he faces.
On Monday, he had appeared before the same sheriff and admitted several charges of breaking into motor vehicles in the Hilton area of the city and stealing various items.
The offences occurred all on the same day on December 30, 2015, and items taken included clothing, a laptop, cash and bank cards.
The sheriff allowed Emslie to remain at liberty but told him that her decision should not indicate to him a final outcome.
She repeated the sentiment of that statement again yesterday when she placed Emslie on bail.
Emslie admitted a charge of culpable and reckless conduct at the derby match.
Fiscal depute Laura Ryan told the court that a number of misdemeanours “were recorded on CCTV and Emslie was filmed throwing a pyrotechnic on to the pitch”.
She said that when footage was reviewed, he was identified and traced on May 9, before being charged the following month.
Defending, Clare Russell reminded the court that sentence on Emslie had been deferred on her client on Monday for a background report which would be ready for September 11.
The sheriff acknowledged her comment but added that she was calling for an additional background report to focus specifically on this charge.
Emslie will be dealt with on September 21, 10 days after the theft case against him.
Ms Russell reserved her comments until then.
