Cases from yesterday's court sittings

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Constable needed blood test after being bitten by accused

A WICK policeman's health is being monitored after he was bitten by a local man who had been arrested.
Constable Christopher Millar was on duty when Kai Thorsted was escorted into the local police station, on Wednesday, the town's sheriff court heard yesterday.
The officer was taken to Caithness General Hospital for a blood test, immediately after the incident.
David Barclay, prosecuting, said that the bite broke the skin on his fore-arm and added: "He now awaits the result of that test and will have further check-ups in the coming months."
Thorsted, 39, appeared from custody and admitted assaulting PC Millar and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
The accused came to the attention of the police when they went to investigate an incident in Huddart Street, Wick, which had been reported to them. The officers found Thorsted, who was alone and had facial injuries.
They attempted to establish what had happened but Thorsted began swearing at them and threatening violence and was arrested.
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that the accused had been drinking and had "absolutely no recollection" of the incidents, for which he was "deeply ashamed".
She said: "He has no explanation of what happened other than having been under the influence of drink which is an issue he is keen to address."
Thorsted, of 6 Battery Road, Wick, who has an extensive record, was remanded in custody until August 7, pending an update on Constable Miller's health.
Tiredness may have caused long-distance lorry driver's multi-vehicle crash
A long-distance Orkney lorry driver, whose carelessness triggered a triple, knock-on, series of accidents, was fined £400 at Wick Justice of the Peace Court yesterday.
James Hourston, 50, was heading north on the A9 between Dunbeath and Occumster on May 17. The justices heard that he "veered partially" onto the wrong side of the road and struck a large goods vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.
David Barclay, prosecuting, outlined the ensuing, domino effect sequence, describing how the goods vehicle collided with a minibus behind the accused's lorry. The lorry then left the road and struck a fence and then a drystone dyke.
All three vehicles were badly damaged said Mr Barclay who added that Hourston, of Kellian Brae, Dounby, was "not entirely sure" what had led up to the accident but thought that having had a long journey, tiredness had possibly set in.
In addition to the fine, Hourston, said to have previously had a clean driving licence, incurred six penalty points. He was not present in court and pleaded guilty by letter.
In a separate case , the court heard that a teenage driver was confronted by a police car after after taking a bend wide, on the wrong side of the road, in Thurso's Janet Street.
The police vehicle was forced to break heavily, to avoid a collision. Alexander Shaw, of 94 Henrietta Street, Wick, admitted having driven carelessly, on May 19.
The 19-year-old was fined £180 and incurred four penalty points.