County ban

Accused shouted and swore at ex-partner

A MAN, who shouted and swore at his partner, has been banned from the county for a year.

The incident occurred after John Mackenzie, 33, fell out with Allana Drummond at their home at 5 Lyness House, Mount Vernon, Thurso, on March 1 last year. Mackenzie admitted abusive behaviour on a substantially reduced indictment, and an extensive record, in a last-minute plea change..

The sheriff court at Wick was told, yesterday, that the couple were socialising along with friends and the night was "going well" until an argument, "over nothing", arose.

Fiscal David Barclay said that Mackenzie shouted and swore at Miss Drummond and there was a struggle during which she sustained a minor injury, a swelling and redning around her upper neck.

Solicitor Alan Findlay, for the accused, said that it had been something of an on-off relationship which had been "volatile" at times. However, it was now "well and truly over". Mackenzie wanted to move on and was now living at his mother's home in Kessock Road, Inverness, where he was said to have the chance of a job.

Mr Findlay pointed out that the reduction in what had originally been three charges, had left things on a much less serious basis. Had the case been starting afresh, he claimed, it would have been dealt with at summary level or even in the JP court.

Sheriff Andrew Berry deferred sentence for a year, during which Mackenzie, who is currently addressing a community payback order for an unrelated charge, will be banned from entering Caithness .

Pleas of not guilty to two charges, were accepted, earlier, by fiscal Mr Barclay. These alleged that, on the same day, Mackenzie assaulted Miss Drummond seized her by the throat, restricting her breathing, and punched and kicked her.