A round-up of stories from Wick Sheriff Court this week.
1. Man caught speeding at 90mph on notorious A9 road
A Sheriff banned a driver who hit 90mph on a main north road – in the hope it would act as a deterrent to other motorists.
Douglas Baird, 55, admitted the offence in a 60mph limit on the A9 at Loch Rangag, near the hamlet of Latheron, on April 26.
Wick Sheriff Court was told that Baird, of Millbank Road, Thurso, required his licence for his work which involved him in regular runs back and fore to Aberdeen.
However Sheriff Andrew Berry said that there was a particularly high speed involved and said he must impose a disqualification “to bring home to him and others, that driving at very high speeds can’t be tolerated.”
The Sheriff added: “It is clear that your ability to drive is important, but it is you who have put your licence in peril.”
Baird, an offshore worker, was banned for two months and fined £500.
2.Highland man attacked ex partner in her bed
A Wick man has been found guilty of a violent attack on a couple in their home.
The victims, Nadia Devine and a 16-year-old youth who can’t be named for legal reasons, both required medical attention following the assaults by Alexander Macalpine, on October 28, last year.
Wick Sheriff Court heard that Ms Devine, 26, and the teenager, were lying on the bed at her home in Cairndhuna Terrace, Wick, when her former boyfriend burst in and set about them with the table leg, inflicting extensive injuries.
The teenager eventually managed to disarm Macalpine, 26, who ran from the house but was later arrested by the police.
He denied the assaults and threatening or abusive behaviour, and entered a special defence of alibi.
Finding Macalpine of Battery Road, Wick, guilty, Sheriff Andrew Berry expressed surprise that he had not been prosecuted under “solemn procedure” which carries a custodial sentence far in excess of the year maximum under summary procedure.
Macalpine was previously jailed for three years for extortion and the sheriff continued the current case to ascertain whether there was still a portion of that sentence remaining to be served when the accused had committed his latest offences.
Sheriff Andrew Berry called for a background report which will also assess whether MacAlpine is a danger to the general public and if a non-harassment order requires to be imposed.
The accused was remanded, pending sentence on October 14.
3. Man told woman in wheelchair “there is nothing wrong with you”
A Sheriff has warned a man who “horribly” abused a woman in a wheelchair that a prison sentence would be among the options open to him.
John Goodbrand was ordered to make a personal appearance at Wick Sheriff Court by
Sheriff Andrew Berry who further described the accused’s behaviour as “awful” yesterday.
Goodbrand, 60, opened a window of his home on Provost Sinclair Road in Thurso and told the neighbour, seated in a ramp leading to her front door: “There is nothing wrong with you” and swore.
Goodbrand added:”You cripple…you will never get out of that scooter.”
The police were contacted and found him asleep in an intoxicated state. Those within earshot of Goodbrand’s abuse, the wheechair victim and her mother, told officers they had been ‘distressed’ by the comments.
Goodbrand was detained and released later. He admitted an aggravated charge of threatening or abusive conduct which occurred on June 25, and a record.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that Goodbrand was “ashamed” of his conduct and blamed drink for it.
Sheriff Berry called for a background report describing the offence as “very serious”. Goodbrand will be sentenced on October 28.
4. Sheriff warns young woman about dangers of living party lifestyle
A Sheriff yesterday warned a young woman about the dangers of living a party lifestyle existence.
Sheriff Andrew Berry was commenting on the trend referred to in a background report on Ashley Caley who previously admitted a charge of assault.
Police officers got an unexpected reaction when they responded to a call for help from a Wick house, the town’s sheriff court was told.
When they arrived in North Murchison Street on May 21, they were confronted by a “highly aggressive” Ashley Caley who demanded to know what they were doing there, Wick Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
The 22-year-old, who was drunk, reacted badly to being arrested and was shouting and screaming as she attempted to punch and kick Constables Fern MacDonald and Alasdair MacDonald but made “no meaningful contact”.
Fiscal Andrew Laing said that, given the officers had responded to a call for help, he was reminded of the saying – “biting the hand that feeds you”.
Caley, of Nicolson Street, Wick, was ordered to carry out 75 hours unpaid work in the community. and will be under supervision for 15 months.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said that the accused had behaved “disgracefully” and continued: “The trouble with people living a partying lifestyle is that they don’t know what is going on round about them. Using and abusing alcohol and any form of drugs that come their way, they are out of control and all sorts of things can happen. In this case you couldn’t remember anything and thought you might have been assaulted.”
5. Man who assaulted police officer jailed
A man who assaulted a police officer and subjected him and a colleague to a torrent of abuse has been jailed for five months.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Andrew Berry told Paul Cannop, 22, at Wick, that his race-related behaviour had been “vulgar”, “distasteful” and “absolutely disgraceful”.
The trouble flared after police officers arrived at Thorkel Road, Thurso, on April 29, to speak to a group which included Cannop.
They found him sitting on a settee under the influence of alcohol or “some substance”.
Fiscal depute, Fraser Matheson said that when he was advised he was to be detained, Cannop stood up and pushed Constable Gary Dunlop and swore.
The accused struggled and continued to shout and swear even after he was brought under control and secured in the police van where he uttered similar abuse on the way to Thurso police station.
Solicitor Michael Burnett said that Cannop was currently serving a prison sentence imposed earlier. The accused had little recollection of the incidents. He had been self-harming and was suffering from depression at the time and had been “in a frustrated and distressed state.”
Cannop, of Holborn Avenue, Thurso, appeared from custody – he is currently serving a five-month sentence imposed a fortnight ago for an unrelated offence- and admitted charges of assault and threatening or abusive conduct as well as a record including offences of violence and disorder.
His latest sentence will run from yesterday.