A 31-year-old man who mugged a schoolboy and stole his bicycle was jailed for a total of three years yesterday.
Sheriff David Sutherland praised the members of the public who stopped William Williamson from escaping, saying: “Thankfully they intervened and prevented further injury and distress to the young boy.”
The sheriff described the crime as “nasty” and also criticised Williamson for his behaviour later in the A&E unit of Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where he was being treated for a head laceration.
Inverness Sheriff Court had been told last month that police had already been called to Telford Street in Inverness on June 28.
Williamson, who is described as an Inverness prisoner but has Moray connections, approached two youngsters outside a chip shop.
Williamson was described as “really drunk” as he demanded one boy dismount.
Fiscal depute Alex Swain said: “When the boy refused, Williamson first tried to head-butt him but missed. He then punched the boy on the face, grabbed his bicycle and attempted to cycle off. But he was stopped by passers-by.
“However Williamson cut his head and had to be taken to hospital by police. On the journey, he shouted and swore at officers and made various threats.” Ms Swain said.
The court heard that he tried to spit at one officer and missed, but spat at a second and hit him on the head.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell asked for a drug treatment and testing order assessment to be carried out on her client, who admitted assault and robbery, threatening behaviour and two police assaults.
But the Sheriff refused the plea adding: “The court must take a serious view of this totally unacceptable behaviour.”
The sentence was backdated to July 2 when Williamson was remanded.
