A Lerwick man stabbed a drug dealer after being sold paracetomol instead of cocaine, Inverness Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
Ross MacDougall, who was described as a prisoner in the city, appeared from custody and admitted striking 26-year-old Garry Macdonald with a steak knife to his injury and danger of life in Inverness on October 18 this year.
Sheriff David Sutherland was told that MacDougall, 27, was drinking with two other friends, James Dearie, 25, and Steven Giblin, 30, at Lauders Bar in Inverness before returning to Giblin’s house at 27 Hilton Crescent where MacDougall was staying, and continued drinking alcohol and also took cocaine.
Mr Urquhart said: “Dearie and MacDougallboth left and went to a shop to purchase more alcohol.
“They also met Garry Macdonald, from whom Dearie had arranged by telephone to purchase cocaine.
“Macdonald was intoxicated and supplied them with what they believed to be one gram of cocaine, making arrangements to pay for it at a later date.”
Mr Urquhart described how the buyers recognised the substance as paracetamol, and a row ensued that ended with the parties agreeing to meet for a fight.
He added: “MacDougall picked up a knife from the kitchen, saying it was for protection before meeting Esson and Macdonald.
“The fight took place and MacDougall put MacDonald to the ground and then was seen by Dearie making small stabbing motions with his right hand giving the impression he was stabbing him.”
Mr Urquhart said the victim did not not realise he had been stabbed, thinking he had been kicked on the back three times.
“He went home by taxi and went to bed, later discovering a small pool of blood on the bed sheets.
“He was taken to Raigmore Hospital and had wounds to his left cheek, his shoulder blade and chest which caused a collapsed lung.
“A CT scan showed this wound to have just missed main artery and vein coming from the heart to the lungs. The consultant surgeon who treated him described MacDonald as being “very lucky.”
MacDougall was arrested by police on October 20, 2015 and told officers: “I just hope the boy is ok, it’s totally out of character for me. I had a lot to drink. There’s things I can’t remember, but I’ve done that; it’s just unbelievable.”
Sentence was deferred until January 19 for a background report.