A pensioner who discussed the “assassination” of Nicola Sturgeon before helping assault a sheriff during a violent “citizen’s arrest” has been jailed for five years and 10 months.
William Curtis directed the threatening online remarks towards the First Minister which were discovered by her private office in Edinburgh in 2019.
The 71-year-old ex-fishing skipper also continued a sinister hate campaign against his then local MSP Stewart Stevenson that year.
He sent a YouTube video link relating to the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox with the message: “Your time is coming, for that you can be sure.”
Curtis and 60-year-old Philip Mitchell then teamed up to target Sheriff Robert McDonald on June 29 2021.
Mitchell wrestled the 67-year-old to the ground near to Banff Sheriff Court before sitting on top of him.
Curtis stood nearby filming on his phone while encouraging his accomplice.
Curtis was last month found guilty of three charges of threatening and abusive behaviour towards the First Minister, Mr Stevenson as well as to a former neighbour and local housing officer.
The crimes spanned between February 2019 and October 2020 at Curtis’s home in Aberchirder.
He and Mitchell were also convicted of the assault and abduction of Sheriff McDonald after a protracted trial.
Both were today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
‘You are entirely unrepentant’
Mitchell was jailed for four years.
Lord Weir told him: “To anyone observing the footage, it must have been a frighting and humiliating experience.
“It is apparent from the social work report that your attitude to the serious offence is unchanged from the position through the trial to the effect that you conducted a lawful citizen’s arrest.
“You are entirely unrepentant.
“What you did wasn’t just an assault on Sheriff McDonald, it was an assault on law and order.”
The judge told Curtis: “The content of those messages was a complete disregard to the likely impact.
“The social worker offered an opinion that you have created a personal vendetta to those people in authority including MSPs and professionals in the criminal justice system.
“You too are entirely unrepentant.”
Curtis turned to the dock and shrugged to the public gallery as he was led into the cells.
Threatening emails mentioned ‘treason’
The trial heard of an initial “threatening” email which Ms Sturgeon’s office intercepted in February 27 2019 sent from a “Billy Curtis”.
Among other detail, the message read: “We do not intend to harm her, but if her security attempt to stop the rights of a citizen’s arrest on an ongoing crime…
“Well, as the police are so good at saying, reasonable force will be used.”
The trial then heard of a Facebook posting which had been passed on from Stewart Stevenson’s office.
This was in the name of William Patrick Curtis.
Once more there was mention of a ‘citizen’s arrest” of Ms Sturgeon for “treason”.
But, it added: “Over the last three years serious people, who feel the abuse to the electorate by her criminal activities warrants assassination of her and several of her ministers
“On down to even civilians who work in all these agencies who have repeatedly lied to the electorate and conspired with the First Minister.”
It was signed off “The Skipper xxxx”.
In March 2019, Curtis continued to hassle Mr Stevenson.
He had been fined the previous year for threatening the then Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP.
A Facebook message read: “Your time is coming, for that you can be sure.”
There was also a YouTube video relating to then recent death of Labour MP Jo Cox.
There was another message which read: “I fully intend to haunt you. You corrupt b*****d”.
Sheriff wrestled to ground
In June 2021, Curtis and Mitchell were caught on camera confronting Sheriff McDonald at a car park next to the court where he presided.
Mitchell shouted: “You are Sheriff Robert McDonald and I am here to make a citizen’s arrest.”
Sheriff McDonald had previously ruled in his favour in a dispute Mitchell had been having with the DVLA.
The lawyer told the trial: “I tried to break free, but Mr Mitchell wrestled me to the ground and then sat on top of me.
“I was flat on my back and Mr Mitchell was astride me. He was literally sitting across my waist.”
“I was taken aback…in the civil case I had found in Mr Mitchell’s favour as I had granted an appeal.
“It made no sense to me. I was annoyed, but totally bemused at what was going on.”
Despite Mitchell urging police to arrest the sheriff, it was him and Curtis who ended up being held.
In evidence, Curtis claimed he was merely there as a “witness” that morning despite him being heard stating: “That’s it – hold him down”.
Accused tried to blame partner
Curtis told prosecutor Chris McKenna: “Philip Mitchell is the one making the citizen’s arrest. I was there to check on the man’s wellbeing.”
Both him and Mitchell claimed the footage played to jurors had been “doctored” to make them appear guilty.
Curtis denied the other accusations blaming then partner Alyson Gould for targeting Mr Stevenson.
But, Miss Gould, 65, said Curtis had an “issue” with the former MSP and that he sounded off “24/7, seven days a week” about his “political views”.
Former HGV driver Mitchell meantime told jurors he was “compelled” to carry out the “citizen’s arrest” of Sheriff McDonald.
There were repeated accusations the court, prosecutors and the Scottish Government were “corrupt”.
‘He is completely down a rabbit hole’
Paul Mullen, defending Mitchell, told the sentencing that his client is “bright, articulate and far from stupid.
The lawyer added: “He is completely down a rabbit hole – he simply can’t see the wrongfulness of his actions and he maintains his position.
“He believes his actions on that day were legitimate and believes he was acting out a citizen’s arrest.”
Chris Miller, defending Curtis, also stated his client believed he was carrying out a “lawful citizen’s arrest.”
He added: “He maintains any derogatory remarks was a consequence because the sheriff caused damage to his motor vehicle prior to this taking place.”
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