An addict ended up on the wrong end of a police baton after picking up a knife as he visited an Inverness property to buy drugs.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard 41-year-old addict Stewart Rattray, of Upper Kessock Street, had gone to a nearby property to buy drugs on July 28 last year.
Sheriff Sara Matheson was told that the routine for the transaction was to go to the window and hand over the cash.
But defence solicitor Marc Dickson explained that his client told him the knife had been on the window sill outside and he picked it up.
Knife had four-inch blade
The lawyer said: “He panicked when he was confronted by the police and hid it behind his back.”
Rattray admitted possessing a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said: “Police had been called to the property after a report of a man banging on the window.
“When they saw Rattray holding a knife, they approached him and drew their PAVA spray and batons.
‘He knows he has to address his issues’
“He turned to face them and hid the knife behind his back, so he was struck on the thigh with a baton.
“He dropped the knife, which had a four-inch long fixed blade.”
Mr Dickson asked the Sheriff to defer sentence for reports, including an initial assessment for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO).
He said: “He is a widower and, since his wife passed away several years ago, he has struggled with drug addiction, which is compounded by alcohol.
“He is now at the stage of his life that he knows he has to address his issues because when he offends he is just getting longer and longer prison sentences.”
Sheriff Matheson agreed to defer sentence for a background report and a DTTO assessment.
She remanded Rattray in custody until December 10 for them to be prepared.
