Nwicker60
11-Jan-14, 09:27
Driver with drug cocktail wasn’t fit to be at the wheel
A WICK man who was found to have a cocktail of drugs in his system after being stopped by the police won't be allowed to drive again until he resits his driving.
Sheriff Andrew Berry described the accused, Gary McPhee, 27, as having been "incapable of driving properly".
McPhee, of 3 North View, Wick, admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs, at Wick Sheriff Court, yesterday.
Police who stopped him in his home street on April 6, last year, after a tip-off, found his speech slurred- he was confused and unable to stand properly. A blood test revealed a variety of drugs.
Solicitor Neil Wilson maintained that the levels of the drugs were "well within" normal dosages. He said that McPhee had also been using non-prescription valium following the death of his father around the time of the offence. The drug driving offence had been "a wake-up call".
Sheriff Berry said: "It is obvious to anyone that you should not have made any attempt to drive your vehicle."
The sheriff added that in the interest of public safety McPhee would be banned for a year and not be allowed to drive again until he passed a driving test and will be subject to a drugs check. He will also have to carry out 60 hours unpaid community work.
Prison if you're convicted of a drugs charge again
A persistent drugs offender was warned by a sheriff yesterday that he faced prison if he reappeared on the same type of charge again.
The accused, Dwid Mieczlzarek, 28, was approached by police in Wellington Street, Wick, on November 17, last year and found to have 3.3 gms of cannabis resin in his possession, said to have been for his personal use.
The court was told that the accused had been the subject of fiscal fines for similar offences, previously.
Sheriff Berry said that every time Mieczlzarek, of 60 Murchison Street, Wick, was caught, time and resources were spent on processing the offences.
The sheriff, who reprimanded the accused for looking to the ceiling when being addressed, ordered him to carry out 40 hours unpaid community work.
Find court business funny?...not from the cells you wouldn't!
ANYONE in the public benches at Wick Sheriff Court who appears to find the proceedings amusing will swap their seats for ones in jail.
Sheriff Berry interrupted a case to warn spectators. He spoke of the danger of missing vital information in his deliberations and insisted he would have the required peace in order to avoid such distractions.
The sheriff gave the duty police officer authority to escort anyone 'guilty' of such behaviour, to the cells.
Man has violent tendency
A BUCKIE man, said by a sheriff to have "a propensity for violence" was warned about the consequences if he falls foul of the law again.
Stewart Phimister, 24, admitted assaulting his partner, Hayley Pirie, in a Thurso nightclub., on December 1, and a record.
The incident happened after a spell during which the accused had been getting more drunk and "niggley" as the night more on at the Skinandi's nightspot. He grabbed Ms Pirie, pushed her to the ground and poured a drink over her.
Sheriff Berry, who described the assault as "outrageous", ordered Phimister, of 2 Samson Avenue, Buckie, to carry out 100 hours unpaid community service.
Drivers with vital licence still speed
A SHERIFF said yesterday that it never ceased to amaze him that people whose jobs depended on driving resorted to speeding.
In the dock was James Hendry, 20, who admitted travelling at 89mph in a 60mph limit.
The court was told that the loss of his licence would have devastating consequences for his job as a mechanic at the shore-based submarine testing establishment HMS Vulcan, near Dounreay.
It was stated that Hendry, of Stockman’s Cottage, Bilbster, was clocked on the A882, near the village of Watten, on November 13. He was said to have been “running late for work” and made “a grave error of judgement”.
The first offender was fined £400 and incurred four penalty points.
In a separate case, another driver’s speed of 85mph in a 60mph limit was described by Sheriff Berry as “ludicrous”.
Andrew Innes, 21, pleaded guilty to the offence, on the A882, at Bilbster, on October 23. It occurred while he was hurrying home for dinner after working late.
Sheriff Berry observed that Innes, of 8 Ola Drive, Scrabster, had a record for road traffic offences and commented that the accused didn’t appear to have taken any heed of previous penalties.
Innes was fined £400 and banned from driving for four months.
A third speeder was clocked at a speed of 109mph in a 60mph limit on the main A99.
James Sutherland, 31, of 2 Keepers Cottages, Dunnet Head Lighthouse, admitted dangerous driving and a record, The offence occurred at the village of Keiss, on September 25.
He was fined £150 and banned from driving for a year.
Store assistant stole vouchers
Matthew Prince stole vouchers and discount coupons from the store with a potential value of £5000 from his superstore employers.
The items related to promotional discounts on kitchen ware, Wick Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
Matthew Prince, 23, admitted a charge of theft, from Tesco’s Thurso branch between March 1 and 13, last year. The vouchers and coupons had been sold on via social networking sites, it was stated, although Prince was only involved in stealing them, it was stated.
Sheriff Berry continued the case for a background report on what he described as “a substantial breach of trust”.
Prince, of 11 Brownhill Road, Thurso, who lost his year-long employment, will reappear for sentence on February 6.
Last chance for "disgraceful conduct" accused
A WICK man who saw the New Year in behind bars after a disturbance at a local hospital involving attempting to wipe his blood-spattered hands on a police officer is being given his “absolutely last chance”.
Craig McBeath, 28, was remanded on Hogmanay after admitting what Sheriff Berry described as “absolutely disgraceful” conduct at Caithness General Hospital, on December 27.
The court was told that McBeath, 28, shouted and swore and repeatedly head-butted a wall. He also tried to wipe blood from his hands on the face on the police officer’s face.
Sheriff Berry who observed that the accused was currently subject to a three-year supervision order and had other matters still outstanding, told him that if they were all dealt with, he could be facing a few years in hospital.
Continuing the case until February 21 when McBeath’s community payback order comes up for review, the sheriff added that he had a duty to try to break the accused’s “circle of offending”.
McBeath, of Kinnaird Street, Wick, was granted bail.
A WICK man who was found to have a cocktail of drugs in his system after being stopped by the police won't be allowed to drive again until he resits his driving.
Sheriff Andrew Berry described the accused, Gary McPhee, 27, as having been "incapable of driving properly".
McPhee, of 3 North View, Wick, admitted driving while unfit through drink or drugs, at Wick Sheriff Court, yesterday.
Police who stopped him in his home street on April 6, last year, after a tip-off, found his speech slurred- he was confused and unable to stand properly. A blood test revealed a variety of drugs.
Solicitor Neil Wilson maintained that the levels of the drugs were "well within" normal dosages. He said that McPhee had also been using non-prescription valium following the death of his father around the time of the offence. The drug driving offence had been "a wake-up call".
Sheriff Berry said: "It is obvious to anyone that you should not have made any attempt to drive your vehicle."
The sheriff added that in the interest of public safety McPhee would be banned for a year and not be allowed to drive again until he passed a driving test and will be subject to a drugs check. He will also have to carry out 60 hours unpaid community work.
Prison if you're convicted of a drugs charge again
A persistent drugs offender was warned by a sheriff yesterday that he faced prison if he reappeared on the same type of charge again.
The accused, Dwid Mieczlzarek, 28, was approached by police in Wellington Street, Wick, on November 17, last year and found to have 3.3 gms of cannabis resin in his possession, said to have been for his personal use.
The court was told that the accused had been the subject of fiscal fines for similar offences, previously.
Sheriff Berry said that every time Mieczlzarek, of 60 Murchison Street, Wick, was caught, time and resources were spent on processing the offences.
The sheriff, who reprimanded the accused for looking to the ceiling when being addressed, ordered him to carry out 40 hours unpaid community work.
Find court business funny?...not from the cells you wouldn't!
ANYONE in the public benches at Wick Sheriff Court who appears to find the proceedings amusing will swap their seats for ones in jail.
Sheriff Berry interrupted a case to warn spectators. He spoke of the danger of missing vital information in his deliberations and insisted he would have the required peace in order to avoid such distractions.
The sheriff gave the duty police officer authority to escort anyone 'guilty' of such behaviour, to the cells.
Man has violent tendency
A BUCKIE man, said by a sheriff to have "a propensity for violence" was warned about the consequences if he falls foul of the law again.
Stewart Phimister, 24, admitted assaulting his partner, Hayley Pirie, in a Thurso nightclub., on December 1, and a record.
The incident happened after a spell during which the accused had been getting more drunk and "niggley" as the night more on at the Skinandi's nightspot. He grabbed Ms Pirie, pushed her to the ground and poured a drink over her.
Sheriff Berry, who described the assault as "outrageous", ordered Phimister, of 2 Samson Avenue, Buckie, to carry out 100 hours unpaid community service.
Drivers with vital licence still speed
A SHERIFF said yesterday that it never ceased to amaze him that people whose jobs depended on driving resorted to speeding.
In the dock was James Hendry, 20, who admitted travelling at 89mph in a 60mph limit.
The court was told that the loss of his licence would have devastating consequences for his job as a mechanic at the shore-based submarine testing establishment HMS Vulcan, near Dounreay.
It was stated that Hendry, of Stockman’s Cottage, Bilbster, was clocked on the A882, near the village of Watten, on November 13. He was said to have been “running late for work” and made “a grave error of judgement”.
The first offender was fined £400 and incurred four penalty points.
In a separate case, another driver’s speed of 85mph in a 60mph limit was described by Sheriff Berry as “ludicrous”.
Andrew Innes, 21, pleaded guilty to the offence, on the A882, at Bilbster, on October 23. It occurred while he was hurrying home for dinner after working late.
Sheriff Berry observed that Innes, of 8 Ola Drive, Scrabster, had a record for road traffic offences and commented that the accused didn’t appear to have taken any heed of previous penalties.
Innes was fined £400 and banned from driving for four months.
A third speeder was clocked at a speed of 109mph in a 60mph limit on the main A99.
James Sutherland, 31, of 2 Keepers Cottages, Dunnet Head Lighthouse, admitted dangerous driving and a record, The offence occurred at the village of Keiss, on September 25.
He was fined £150 and banned from driving for a year.
Store assistant stole vouchers
Matthew Prince stole vouchers and discount coupons from the store with a potential value of £5000 from his superstore employers.
The items related to promotional discounts on kitchen ware, Wick Sheriff Court was told yesterday.
Matthew Prince, 23, admitted a charge of theft, from Tesco’s Thurso branch between March 1 and 13, last year. The vouchers and coupons had been sold on via social networking sites, it was stated, although Prince was only involved in stealing them, it was stated.
Sheriff Berry continued the case for a background report on what he described as “a substantial breach of trust”.
Prince, of 11 Brownhill Road, Thurso, who lost his year-long employment, will reappear for sentence on February 6.
Last chance for "disgraceful conduct" accused
A WICK man who saw the New Year in behind bars after a disturbance at a local hospital involving attempting to wipe his blood-spattered hands on a police officer is being given his “absolutely last chance”.
Craig McBeath, 28, was remanded on Hogmanay after admitting what Sheriff Berry described as “absolutely disgraceful” conduct at Caithness General Hospital, on December 27.
The court was told that McBeath, 28, shouted and swore and repeatedly head-butted a wall. He also tried to wipe blood from his hands on the face on the police officer’s face.
Sheriff Berry who observed that the accused was currently subject to a three-year supervision order and had other matters still outstanding, told him that if they were all dealt with, he could be facing a few years in hospital.
Continuing the case until February 21 when McBeath’s community payback order comes up for review, the sheriff added that he had a duty to try to break the accused’s “circle of offending”.
McBeath, of Kinnaird Street, Wick, was granted bail.