Additional cases from Friday's Sheriff Court sitting

Knife carriers will invariably face a custodial sentence-sheriff

A SHERIFF reiterated the law’s policy on people who carry knives in public places and underlined it with a prison sentence he imposed on the latest offender.
Kevin Clark was jailed for 136 days when he appeared from custody, at Wick Sheriff Court, on Friday and pleaded guilty, and admitted a number of previous convictions.
Clark, of Marr Terrace, Thurso, was approached by police after they received a report that he was behaving in an odd manner in the town’s Albyn Court, on July 3. He immediately owned up to having a lockback, Stanley-style, knife in his possession.
Solicitor Neil Wilson said that Clark (28) was “very much under the influence of drugs” when seen by the police and “had no idea what he was doing”.
Mr Wilson stated, however: “He has to take responsibility for his actions and has done so, now. He knows there can be only once sentence.” The solicitor added that the offence had been “a wake-up call”, for the accused who was doing his best to stay drug free.
Sheriff Andrew Berry, who saw reports told Clark, said: “Maybe you will approach life in an entirely different way, in due course.
The sheriff added: “As Mr Wilson concedes, in most cases where a person is in a public place with a knife, it is highly likely a prison sentence will follow, unless there are exceptional circumstances. You have previous convictions so it has to be a prison sentence.”
The prison term is backdated to October 11 when Clark was taken into custody.

Cannabis discovered in northbound car

POLICE, acting on a drugs tip-off, stopped a car on the A9 and found a small haul of cannabis resin.
It led to the appearance in the dock of Norman Thomson, of Shorelands Farm Bungalow, Ackergill.
He admitted possession of the Class B drug, on February 2.
It was stated that the two slabs of the cannabis was located in the boot of Thomson’s northbound vehicle. These weighed just over half-a-kilo which would have commanded a total value of between £1000 and £1,200 had it been dispersed in individual deals.
However, said senior fiscal depute, David Barclay, the Crown had accepted, Thomson’s assurance that he was a heavy ‘user’ and the cannabis had been for his own purposes.
Mr Barclay added: “The accused had bought in bulk in order to obtain a better price. He does not have to come into contact with those who supply such things.”
Thomson (47) will be sentenced on November 25, after the sheriff sees background reports.