An Inverness teenager has been given a chance to steer herself away from a life of crime thanks to a sheriff and prison staff.
Leah Petrie has been on remand in the Peterhead facility since January 26 this year after committing a series of offences.
But while there, the prison’s chaplain and social work staff managed to secure a place for the 19-year-old in a residential unit in Wales for troubled individuals run by Teen Challenge UK.
When Sheriff Robert Frazer heard about Petrie’s opportunity from defence solicitor Marc Dickson and social workers, he was eager for it to happen.
Petrie was before him admitting three assaults on December 6, 2021 and anti-social behaviour on November 28, 2020, all in Inverness.
‘I wish you all the best for the future’
However, he wanted to ensure that she had support on her journey to Llanelli rather than have her travel on her own.
After lunch at Inverness Sheriff Court, Mr Dickson told the sheriff arrangements were in place to escort his client south on her release from the Buchan Young Offender’s Institution.
He sentenced Petrie to three months detention backdated to January 26 which meant the term had expired immediately.
But he added a seven-day sentence to start immediately, explaining that Petrie would be released from custody on Friday into the care of her escorts for relocation to Hope House in Wales.
Petrie had gone ‘off the rails’
Sheriff Frazer told her: “You strike me as someone who is not without hope. But we need to break that cycle of offending and then you can get on with your life.
“With the support of HMP Grampian, they have found you a place in Wales from which you would greatly benefit. You have to make the most of this opportunity and I wish you all the best for the future.”
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told the court that the November offence involved the police being called three times to a stairwell in a block of flats in Chattan Avenue, Inverness, to deal with Petrie who was eventually arrested.
Petrie was shouting and screaming and banging on a door.
The December offences involved another block of flats in Dunabban Road, Inverness.
When three residents came out to try and get Petrie to leave, she attacked the trio, by pulling their hair.
Mr Dickson said that Petrie had lost her mother that month and had other family matters which led her “to go off the rails”.
“She had coronavirus in prison and was unable to go to the funeral, although a video was arranged for her.
“She is a young lady who has had a difficult upbringing and has had a phenomenal amount to deal with.”
