Prison the only option for man with long record


AN unemployed Halkirk man has been jailed for four months.
Graham MacPhee, 29, pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court, yesterday, and admitted a string of previous convictions.
He entered premises in Halkirk on August 1 and 2 and his haul included mobile phones, a laptop, a passport clothing and foodstuffs while under the influence of a substance, all of which were recovered.
MacPhee, of 1 Church Lane, Halkirk, had his sentence backdated to August 20 when he was remanded.
Also jailed was Thurso man Scott Lindsay, who appeared from custody in a separate case.
Lindsay, 38, admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour at the Tesco store in Thurso on August 1.
He stepped in front of an off-duty police officer and pushed her trolley containing her youngster, aside.
Sheriff Andrew Berry referred to the accused's lengthy record of offending over the years, and substance abuse and made the point that those that had tried to help, social workers, health professionals were at a loss to know how to stem his offending.






Accused alleged to have threatened to burn house down

A Latheron man is alleged to have threatened to seriously assault a couple and set fire to their home.
The accused, John Hastings, denied two charges of threatening or abusive behaviour at his then home at 2 Seaview Cottages, Latheron, on August 1.
These allege that he made known his intention to a police officer to chop off Colin and Jacqueline Merriot's legs below the knees as well as the fire threat.
Hastings, 41, is also accused of threatening violence to the couple's dog and making a racially-aggravated reference to them as "English s".
Hastings, now living at 31 Cairndhuna Terrace,Wick,was granted bail and will return to court for his trial on November 14.



Single tablet still serious says sheriff

A Harpsdale man was fined £330 for possession of a drug tablet.
The methyleneamphetamine tablet was discovered when police,acting on a tip-off searched Craig Hollyood, of Smithy House, Harpsdale, near Halkirk, in Thurso, on December 1.
The 41-year-old said he had been at a party but didn't know how he had obtained the Class A drug, valued at £15.
That prompted a comment from Sheriff Berry who said it was "remarkable" how many people who didn't know how they had come by drugs. Being a Class A drug, it was one which could have serious consequences for a person driving, for example, or affect their employment, added the sheriff.



Thurso man facing charge of assault and vandalism


A YOUNG Thurso man has been accused of charges of assault and vandalism.
Paul Alexander Cannop made no plea or declaration when he appeared in private. The 20-year-old is alleged to have twice carried out an assault - one with a weapon - and the same number of times relating to the vandalism.
The offences are said to have occurred in Thurso on September 3.
Cannop was remanded in custody by Sheriff Berry, pending further inquiry and is expected to make a further appearance in court, on Friday.

































































AN unemployed Halkirk man has been jailed for four months.
Graham MacPhee, 29, pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court, yesterday, and admitted a string of previous convictions.
He entered premises in Halkirk on August 1 and 2 and his haul included mobile phones, a laptop, a passport clothing and foodstuffs while under the influence of a substance, all of which were recovered.
MacPhee, of 1 Church Lane, Halkirk, had his sentence backdated to August 20 when he was remanded.
Also jailed was Thurso man Scott Lindsay, who appeared from custody in a separate case.
Lindsay, 38, admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour at the Tesco store in Thurso on August 1.
He stepped in front of an off-duty police officer and pushed her trolley containing her youngster, aside.
Sheriff Andrew Berry referred to the accused's lengthy record of offending over the years, and substance abuse and made the point that those that had tried to help, social workers, health professionals were at a loss to know how to stem his offending.









A Latheron man is alleged to have threatened to seriously assault a couple and set fire to their home.
The accused, John Hastings, denied two charges of threatening or abusive behaviour at his then home at 2 Seaview Cottages, Latheron, on August 1.
These allege that he made known his intention to a police officer to chop off Colin and Jacqueline Merriot's legs below the knees as well as the fire threat.
Hastings, 41, is also accused of threatening violence to the couple's dog and making a racially-aggravated reference to them as "English s".
Hastings, now living at 31 Cairndhuna Terrace,Wick,was granted bail and will return to court for his trial on November 14.