Fisherman threatened to pay someone to gouge out eyes of police officer

A west coast fisherman who threatened to pay someone to gouge out the eyes of a police officer at the Tartan Heart Festival at Belladrum was ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work yesterday.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 20-year-old John Clarke from Badbea, Dundonnell, was taken to the event’s ejection tent because of his behaviour.

Depute fiscal David Morton told Sheriff Mark Thornley: “”He appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was detained by two police officers although nothing was found.

“He became difficult and said to one of the officers: ‘I know a real criminal and I’ll pay £600 to gouge your eyes out’.”

Solicitor Willie Young said his client had drunk too much and had no recollection of making the remarks.

Sheriff Thornley told Clarke, who admitted behaving in a threatening manner: “This was an unpleasant incident to put it mildly.”