Assaulted lifelong friend sheriff court is told

THE reason why a Wick man lashed out at someone he had known for decades, was inexplicable the local sheriff court learned.
Alun Arnold told police he had no recollection of the incident at the town's Waterfront nightclub, on December 13, last year.
The 41-year-old was said to have punched and kicked Graham Webster in the toilet area, in "a brief flurry of blows". Mr Webster sustained minor facial injuries and was observed bleeding soon afterwards.
The court was told that the pair had known each other "really well", for some 30 years. Webster didn't drink much but was said to get "really drunk" on a night out.
Sheriff Andrew Berry, who saw a letter from "someone who speaks highly of you and your character", deferred sentence for three months to allow Arnold, of Newton Row, near Wick, an opportunity to demonstrate he can behave.
The accused, a first offender, will, is banned from the nightclub for six months.

Phone theft a "miserable" crime

AN opportunist thief who grabbed a mobile phone a shop assistant set down during her duties was told by the sheriff that it was "an absolutely miserable theft".
Anna Mearns, 38, of 6a Shellligoe Road, Lybster, pleaded guilty to theft and was ordered to carry out 130 hours unpaid community work.
She was caught on the Thurso co-operative store's CCTV system, on August 1, last year.

Wasn't entitled to benefit

A MAN claimed £7479 of benefit to which he was not entitled.
Sixty-one-year-old George Dallas admitted failing to declare a pension he received, to the Department of Work and Pensions and received an over-payment of JobSeekers allowance.
Sheriff Berry orderd Dallas, of 109 Marr Terrace, Thurso, to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.