A drug addict who terrorised the homes of two Forres pensioners has been jailed.
Alexander McPhee, whose address was listed in court papers as the Royal Hotel, Forres, previously admitted to charges of theft, assault and threatening and abusive behaviour during a spate of crime in July.
Yesterday the 32-year-old returned to Elgin Sheriff Court for sentencing.
The court heard that on July 3, McPhee hounded 73-year-old John MacKenzie by shouting abuse at his sheltered bungalow, battering the doors and windows trying to get in.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins said: “The accused was described as roaring and shouting about his mobile phone, while seeming to point at a TV remote.
“He was insistent about being given his mobile phone back, which wasn’t actually there.
“Mr MacKenzie pushed the panic button in the property and the accused left and was later traced by police and taken to Dr Gray’s hospital due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed.”
And on July 30, McPhee was caught at 82-year-old Adam Innes’s home, attempting to steal copper piping and a wheelbarrow from the garden.
When confronted, McPhee became angry and lashed out at Alexander Collins, who was visiting Mr Innes, and caused him to stumble against the wall, hitting his face and grazing his arm.
Sheriff John Halley said there was no alternative to jail, and said McPhee had failed to prove his commitment to community payback orders handed out for previous offences.
He locked him up for 125 days, and said: “Standing the circumstances of the charges you pled guilty to involving the two old gentlemen — if I can refer to them that way — I am of the view sentences of imprisonment are the only way this case can be dealt with properly.”