Rowdy had "far too much to drink"

A POLICE officer required medical treatment following a scuffle while arresting a John O’ Groats teenager during a late-night incident in Wick.
The accused, Eddie MacGregor, had sentenced deferred at Wick Sheriff Court yesterday, (Thursday) after he admitted charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and resisting the police.
The unemployed 16-year-old was drinking from a bottle of cider when officers encountered him, in High Street, Wick, while on patrol shortly before midnight, on April 6. MacGregor, of 12 Heatherbell Cottages, John O’ Groats, shouted and swore at them and made rude hand gestures. He struggled violently when arrested and one of the officers, Constable Fern Macdonald sustained a minor injury to a knee injury which required treatment in hospital.
Solicitor Neil Wilson said it was a case of a young man who had had “far too much to drink” and behave in “a wholly inappropriate manner”.
Sheriff Andrew Berry continued the case for three months to give MacGregor an opportunity to demonstrate he could behave himself and commented that, had the accused not been a first offender, he would have taken a much dimmer view of his behaviour.

Took exception to mate's arrest

A THURSO man took exception to one of his mates being arrested and told police so in no uncertain terms.
It resulted in Ian Mackinnon being charged with threatening or abusive behaviour. He admitted the incident in Wick’s High Street, on November 12, when he appeared from custody.
It was stated that Mackinnon, 31, of 33 Springpark Terrace, Thurso, “stuck his nose in” after becoming particularly annoyed when officers used CS gas during the arrest of his mate with whom he had been drinking, earlier.
The accused was sentenced to 60 days in prison but it was back-dated which meant he had already served it.
He was, however, ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid community service after he admitted breaching a bail curfew condition on New Year’s Day.

Reports called for on assault pair

TWO Thurso men have admitted charges of serious assault.
Dean Meiklejohn, of 39 Royal Terrace, and Shane McGinley of 4 Smith Terrace, both Thurso, had sentence deferred for reports.
Meiklejohn, 22, forced Angus Sutherland to the ground and kicked him repeatedly, to his injury. He also assaulted Sam O’ Kane by repeatedly punching him.
McGinley head-butted Garry Lynch to his injury. Both accused admitted a further charge of threatening or abusive conduct. The incident occurred in Thurso’s John Kennedy Drive, on New Year’s Day.
The case was continued for reports until May 11 when Sheriff Berry will hear details of the offences.

Domestic disturbance escalated

NEIGHBOURS became alarmed when they heard raised voices coming from a house in Thurso.
The police were summed and the householder, Andrew Sutherland, was charged with threatening or abusive behaviour during a domestic argument. He pleaded guilty.
It happened at his home at 7 Dunnet Road, Thurso in the early hours of April 1.
Solicitor Jo McDonald said that Sutherland had been “extremely drunk” at the time.
Sheriff Berry said that the authorities took domestic disturbances very seriously which was why the accused had found himself taken into custody.
Sentence as deferred for 6 months for Sutherland to demonstrate he could behave himself.