Here are five stories you may have missed from Inverness Sheriff Court this week.
1) A 61 year old homeless man demanded that he be arrested by police so he had somewhere to stay.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told yesterday that Peter Stewart had been assaulted in his supported accommodation and didn’t want to return there.
So when Stewart turned up at the A&E department of Raigmore Hospital on January 5 for minor treatment, he was unhappy at being discharged.
Police were called and when Stewart shouted and swore at officers wanting to be arrested, fiscal depute Ross Carvel said: “He got his wish.”
Stewart pleaded guilty to behaving in an abusive manner and also admitted a long list of previous convictions, including many for disorder at the hospital.
Jailing him for four months, backdated to January 8, Sheriff Margaret Neilson told him: “Behaviour like this at the hospital is unacceptable.”
2) A Dingwall man who had been treated in hospital became abusive towards police because officers wanted to take him back to A&E.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 54 year old Adrian Steele of Mackay Square had been treated for a head injury at Raigmore Hospital on August 27.
But police received a report that he was seen wandering near the staff quarters and went to investigate, fiscal depute Ross Carvel said.
“When officers noticed a graze on his head and wanted to take him to hospital, he became angry and swore at them, saying he didn’t want to go.”
Defence solicitor Alison Foggo said: “He has no memory of this incident. He had been admitted to hospital on that date and been discharged.
“When he was found he was disorientated and regrets his behaviour. Much of his record is alcohol related.”
Steele had sentence deferred for a background report until February 22.
3) A Sheriff showed mercy to a driver who was drunk in charge of her car because she had two disabled children.
Lana Mackenzie appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted the offence which occurred in Huntly Place, Inverness on August 27.
The court heard that Lana Mackenzie of Ferry Brae, Inverness had been found outside her former partner’s address and her car had been involved in an accident.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said a set of car keys were also nearby and she admitted they belonged to her.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell asked Sheriff Margaret Neilson not to ban her client from driving.
She explained she needed her car to get to work in Culbokie and also to take two of her three children to school and hospital appointments.
Fining 31 year old Mackenzie £300 and imposing 10 penalty points on her licence, Sheriff Neilson said there were “highly unusual circumstances.”
4) A 63 year old handyman who threatened to kill his son after a family row had sentence deferred for good behaviour for six months yesterday.
First offender Neil MacAulay of Campbell Crescent, Kingussie appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted behaving in a threatening manner towards his partner Mary McIntosh and son, Neil Jnr, in their home on December 3.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said: “There was an argument and he went into the kitchen, returning with a steak knife.
“He told his son: ‘I am going to kill you’. His son pinned him down to try and get the knife away from his throat.”
Mr Carvel added that MacAulay turned to his partner, who had become involved, and said: “I will put you in the ground.”
Defending, Alison Foggo said: “It is of enormous regret to him that he lost his temper so spectacularly.
“The family hopes he has learned his lesson having had to spend the festive period away from home due to a bail condition. His son forgives his dad.”
Sheriff Margaret Neilson revoked MacAulay’s bail so he can return home, and ordered him to return on August 2 for sentence.
5) A kilted mourner from a funeral got in a pickle when he complained that his hamburger order was wrong.
Paul Rose, of Rowan Road, Inverness, shouted and swore at McDonald’s staff on the city’s High Street on September 20 and threatened to kill the duty manager.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that there was some confusion over whether or not a pickle had been requested by the 40-year-old.
Fiscal depute Ross Carvel said: “He was heavily intoxicated and a decision was made to give him a full refund.
“But he became aggressive towards the manager and said: ‘You will fix it or you will get it in the head.’
“He continued to rant and said he would wait for the manager outside until he finished and said he would slit his throat and cave in his face.”
Rose admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell said his client was in full Highland dress because he had been at a funeral and he was “upset” over a comment made at it.
Rose was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work.
