Accused could end up seriously injured or worse says sheriff

A SHERIFF said yesterday that he feared that a young man, the victim of recurring assaults, would end up seriously injured "or worse".
Paul Cannop, 22, admitted breaching a community payback order, imposed in October last year, and a record.Solicitor Fiona MacDonald told the court at Wick that Cannop was having to address the difficulties in his life and "the chaos surrounding it".
She expressed the hope that the supervised aspect of the order which the accused is subject to, "might well bear fruit"
Sheriff Andrew Berry told Cannop he found it hard to imagine the accused's life, day by day, his inability to take help from social workers and assistance for his drug issues.
The sheriff added: "You are the victim of regular physical assaults and I have a real concern that one day I am going to be advised that you have been seriously injured or worse."
Sheriff Berry revoked an order for drug treatment testing as the accused's non-co-operation had made it "a waste of time for hardworking people trying to help you".
Cannop, of 21 Holborn Avenue, Thurso, was ordered to continue his unpaid work. His progress will be reviewed on April 15.
The accused is due to stand trial later in the year, on separate and unrelated charges of assault and theft, which he denies.