Jail term addition for “outrageous” behaviour
A YOUNG man, currently serving a lengthy prison sentence, had three months added to it, yesterday, for an assault described by the sheriff as "outrageous".
The accused, Dennis Liversedge, 21, admitted assaulting a fellow lodger while he was staying at the Harbour Guest House, in Wick, on December 30, last year.
The store worker repeatedly punched Sandra MacLachlan and grabbed her by the neck and choked her to her injury.
Wick Sheriff Court was told that Liversedge was serving a 15-month sentence imposed at Inverness Sheriff Court. His address was now given as Flat 4, 33 High Street, Fort William.
Sheriff Andrew Berry told him: "Your behaviour towards this young lady was, to say the least, wholly outrageous."
The sheriff said he took into account that Liversedge was currently serving the longest prison term of his record but made the point that the guest house assault was "a separate act of violence".
The three months will run consecutive to the accused's current prison term.

Drug driver banned

A WICK woman, who drove while under the influence of a legal high, has been banned for a year.
Melanie Munro, 28, was also made subject to a six-month supervision order under which will require her continue treatment for her addiction.
Munro, who pleaded guilty, was stopped by police in Macleay Street, Wick, on September 17, last year.
Solicitor George Mathers said that the accused, of 39 Leith Walk, Wick, had gone "completely off the rails" following the death of her father, which distressed and upset her. However, she was trying to get her life back on track and was in the process of coming off the drug.
Sheriff Berry, who saw a background report, said that the accused must continue to co-operate with the mental health team, currently assisting her and added that he would get a progress report in a month's time.

Post office fraudster sentenced

A MAN used an acquaintance's post office account card to defraud her of £443.
Archibald Moody, 46, was said to have been unhappy that she had not repaid a loan from him and decided to help himself to twice that amount from her account at the Pulteneytown sub post office, at Wick. He had known her for some years and was staying at her home at the time.
Moody, who appeared from custody, admitted the fraud which occurred on December 3, last year.
The court was told that the accused, listed as being of no fixed abode, had not reimbursed the account holder.
Moody, 46, was sentence to four months in jail to run concurrent with another custodial sentence of 60 days he is currently serving and which was imposed at another court for a separate offence.