Our reporters have been sitting in courtrooms across the north and north-east this week and covered a wide variety of cases.
Traveller admits racist abuse
A Traveller who understands the impact of racism “better than anyone” repeatedly called a shop security guard a “brown p***”.
Mark Stewart walked into the Decathlon store in Union Square in Aberdeen and started “acting erratically and shouting”.
When a security guard asked him to calm down, the 27-year-old “took umbrage”, became aggressive and used the racial slur.
Cocket Hat disturbance
A man who stormed through a Toby Carvery in Aberdeen and verbally abused a family as they ate their Sunday dinner has apologised for his “reprehensible” behaviour.
Terry Brannan, 38, had to be subdued by staff after he marched through the Cocket Hat on North Anderson Drive and immediately began shouting, screaming and swearing aggressively at the group.
The trouble continued when police arrived, with Brannan assaulting one officer.
A sheriff told Brannan that he should be “ashamed” of his actions that day.
Bus stop assault
A man has been jailed after a brutal attack at a Union Street bus stop which left his victim with a fractured eye socket and a broken nose.
Christopher MacDonald was leaving the Co-op store on Union Street when he got into a row with the man, who was at a bus shelter, regarding a previous incident.
MacDonald, 31, shouted at the man and repeatedly punched him to the head.
Jilted teen ordered to stay away from ex-girlfriend
A jilted teenager who threatened to throw a brick through his ex-girlfriend’s window when she dumped him after five dates has been ordered to stay away from her.
Kian Crombie, 18, met the young woman via an online dating site but she soon halted the relationship over concerns about his “overbearing and aggressive” behaviour.
Crombie then began bombarding the woman with messages and calls, telling her she was a “s***” and that he was going to smash her window.
When she called the police, her abusive ex told her: “The police can’t do anything”.
Man threatened police with dog
A man threatened police officers with his dog when they turned up at his Inverness home and tried to talk to him.
Ry Carswell opened the door to police with his pet by his side but when he didn’t like how the conversation was going he launched into a “tirade” of aggression and threats.
Holding on to the animal by only its neckerchief, Carswell told officers what it could do if he released it.
Mugger posed as police officer
A mugger claimed to be a police officer before robbing a man at knife-point on his own doorstep.
Joseph Merchant pounced on the stranger who had stepped outside his home on the Spital in Aberdeen to have a cigarette in the early hours of the morning.
The 46-year-old leapt from a car and stated “I’m police” before grabbing his victim, pushing him up against a wall and holding a five-inch knife to his neck.
Drink-driver asked for tow
A three-times-the-limit drink-driver had no licence or insurance when he got his car stuck on a verge at the side of the road.
John Malcolm was caught after flagging down another road user and asking for a tow rope and lift home, a court has heard.
When police caught up with him they noted his red eyes and slow, slurred speech, as well as the fact he had no licence or insurance.
Man accused of attempted murder
A man will go on trial next year accused of attempting to murder another man during a street attack that involved an unknown “sharp implement”.
Maciej Lisowski, 22, allegedly assaulted the 61-year-old in a lane between Park Street and Lemon Place in Aberdeen in February this year.
Lisowski is accused of striking the man on the head and body with a sharp implement, “the nature of which is unknown” to prosecutors.
It’s alleged that the victim was also kicked repeatedly and lost consciousness during the incident.
Man beat up pregnant teen
A 19-year-old man has been warned he could have killed a heavily pregnant teenager after he beat her up in Inverness.
Zachary Williams punched his victim in the face while she was 28 weeks pregnant then seized her by the throat and started squeezing, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
He also repeatedly pushed her on the body and chased after her as she tried to escape.
Man caged for mugging Aberdeen postman for just £28
A man has been caged after threatening to stab and kill a postman before robbing him of just £28.
Theo De Geus pounced on the man inside a block of flats on Farquhar Road in Aberdeen as his victim was delivering mail.
The 20-year-old blocked his path before demanding money and grabbing him by the throat.
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Samurai threats
A 23-year-old threatened to stab a man with a samurai sword during a disturbance in an Aberdeen garden.
Lewis Yeats “joined the fracas” and upped the ante when he brought out the Japanese weapon – prompting his victim to grab a garden hoe for protection, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
Others involved in the Ardarroch Place incident – which happened on the afternoon of June 24 this year – were seen brandishing golf clubs and even a brush, fiscal depute Carol Gammie said.
Man jailed for murder threat to ex
A man vandalised vehicles outside his love rival’s home, before heading to his ex’s house and threatening to kill her
Patrick Stewart told the woman that she would “never be with” the other man because “I will murder you”.
He then called 999 to goad police and made a vile threat to an officer who turned up to arrest him.
Businessmen deny finance law breach
Two north-east businessmen have denied breaching finance law in connection with funds totalling £3.6 million.
Dennis Laing and Calum Moir, who were partners at Banchory-based financial firm Asset Assured, maintained not guilty pleas to the charge against them when their case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Court papers state that Laing, 51, and Moir, 60, used Asset Assured to accept deposits amounting to £3,665,000.
Drug addict bottled pensioner
A man has been jailed after turning violent and bottling a pensioner while going door-to-door trying to sell alcohol to fund his drug habit.
Kevin McGregor flew into a rage when the 69-year-old man refused to open his door, and threatened to smash a window to force his way into the flat on Balnagask Road.
When the brave pensioner followed McGregor, 36, into the back garden to plead with him not to smash his windows, the attacker went ahead and shattered a pane of glass with a bottle.
Man tries to slit throat in dock
An investigation has been launched today after a sex offender pulled out a knife in the dock of a court and tried to slit his own throat.
Robin Parker had just been handed a 14-month sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court when he removed the concealed blade from his clothing and held it to his throat.
Parker told the court: “I am not going to prison” then drew the blade across his neck.
Teen sold crack from car
A teenager who was caught selling crack cocaine from his car in the centre of Aberdeen has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Ryan Godfrey, who was 19 at the time of his offences, was caught with hundreds of pounds worth of the Class A drug when police searched his car on Crown Street.
They found Godfrey in possession of nearly £900 worth of crack and more than £1,000 in cash.
Former nurse who assaulted sister will face no further punishment
A former nurse will face no further punishment after she was found guilty of attacking her sister.
Inverbervie woman Carol McIntosh carried out the violent assault after her sibling returned home from taking their father out for ice cream.
When they arrived back at McIntosh’s dad’s address, the 56-year-old flew into a rage and seized her sister’s mobile phone before striking her on the head.
Man walked into police station with knife and demanded to be arrested
A knifeman who marched into a police station and asked to be arrested has still not given an explanation for his bizarre behaviour.
Stephen Gemmell made the unusual request at Dingwall Police Station on September 13 this year.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told one possible reason for his actions was that he wanted to “dip out of society” and be looked after in prison.
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Highland man charged over £4.4m cocaine haul
A man from the Highlands has been charged with drug offences after £4.4 million of cocaine was seized from a pickup truck in England.
Michael Buttery, of Kinbrace in Sutherland, was arrested and later charged, after a joint investigation between the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Metropolitan Police.
Detectives and NCA officers recovered two large bags that contained 55kg of what was believed to be cocaine in a silver Ford Ranger.
Teen’s Airbnb rampage
A teenager who caused around £10,000 of damage when he trashed an Airbnb during a wild Hogmanay party has turned his life around, a court has been told.
Kyle Webster, then 17, punched and headbutted walls at the city centre flat he’d rented with friends.
The owner of the property received word that things had “got out of hand” and discovered a number of large holes in the plasterboard inside and outside the George Street property.
Christmas in prison
A charity worker who cooks meals for the homeless will have his Christmas dinner behind bars after being jailed for six months.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 35-year-old chef Michael MacBeath had a drink problem and fell off the wagon earlier this year following a spell in rehab.
The court heard he discharged himself from a residential place and committed several thefts, totalling almost £900, from Inverness stores.
Rooftop rioter’s brutal assault
A notorious rooftop rioter has been jailed for a brutal assault on a fellow inmate.
Convicted killer Malcolm Leggat launched himself at Castle Huntly prisoner Thomas McIntyre after he called him a “beast”.
The assault, which left Mr McIntyre scarred for life, followed a long-standing feud between the pair, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
Firefighter avoids roads ban
A Moray firefighter has narrowly avoided a roads ban after he tore his motorbike around a private estate and then shouted abuse at staff there.
Neil Slessor was with a group of motocross riders on the estate near Rothes when he was confronted by the estate manager and a gamekeeper.
As the estate workers explained that the bikers shouldn’t be there, Slessor, 31, began shouting and swearing and insisted: “I can go where I like”.
Nappy change row turns nasty
A new mum was shouted at and called ‘fat’ by her partner who argued she’d left it too long to change their 18-month-old child’s nappy.
David Jess’ shouting was so loud and aggressive that a neighbour overheard and, concerned for the welfare of mum and baby, called 999.
When police arrived Jess, 29, answered the door “bare-chested, sweating profusely and appearing angry”, Elgin Sheriff Court was told.
He’s now been handed a court order to address his anger management issues.
Offshore worker became drug dealer
An offshore worker turned to drug dealing after he lost his job during the pandemic and fell into a “malaise”, a court has heard.
Father-of-three Andrew Duncan appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted selling cocaine to make ends meet when he was made redundant from his oil and gas job.
When police searched the 30-year-old’s car they found more than £1,000 in cash and nearly £1,500 of cocaine.
Charity worker’s shoplifting spree
A charity worker who cooks meals for the homeless will have his Christmas dinner behind bars after being jailed for six months.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 35-year-old chef Michael MacBeath had a drink problem and fell off the wagon earlier this year following a spell in rehab.
The court was told he discharged himself from a residential place and committed several thefts, totalling almost £900, from Inverness stores.
Man accused of sending threatening emails to Tory leader
A Moray man has appeared in court accused of sending grossly offensive emails to Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.
Mark Edwards has been charged over the messages to the MSP and MP for Moray that court papers say are “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character”.
Edwards, 49, denies the charge against him under the Communications Act 2003.
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