COURT ROUND-UP: Invergordon man attacked police officer; Alness link to drugs trafficking; Sex beast jailed; Text message proved costly
IT has been a busy week in the courts for Ross-shire cases.
A 22-year-old Easter Ross man who savagely attacked a police constable and pulled out clumps of her hair avoided a prison sentence because he had completed all outstanding hours of unpaid work imposed as part of a current community payback order.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald previously deferred sentence on Shane Williamson of Reid Road, Invergordon, to allow him time to carry out her instruction to reduce his hours and his defence solicitor David Patterson told her that his client had done them all.
The sheriff then ordered him to carry out another 250 hours and remain under social work supervision for three years. He was also told he must complete an Offender's Awareness programme.
THREE different women complained to police about the abuse they suffered from a 47-year-old Inverness man over 19-year period, a sheriff was told.
Martin Shaw, of Fairfield Road, Inverness appeared for sentencing at Inverness Sheriff Court after admitting causing fear and alarm to one woman between January 2001 and January 2004, a course of domestic abuse towards a second from June 2019 to June 2021 and threatening behaviour towards the daughter of that partner in Oscars Bar in Dingwall in September 2020.
Fiscal depute Shamiela Ghafar told Sheriff Gary Aitken that the first complainer was in a casual relationship with Shaw and he would get angry with her repeatedly, clench his fists and on one occasion she had to pick up a rolling pin to protect herself because of his behaviour.
A "bit player" who was snared by police in a major Highland drugs trafficking operation was jailed for five years today.
Jason Mackay (37) was found to have provided help in Easter Ross by directing a courier who was delivering a batch of cocaine worth up to £300,000 on the streets.
Mackay contacted the man transporting the Class A drugs, including telling him: "Message me when you are 10 minutes away."
A 55-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the domestic and sexual abuse of two women.
Robert Mackinnon Stirling was sentenced at the High Court in Inverness today.
He was also given a lifetime non-harassment order in respect of the victims and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
He was previously convicted at the same court on Monday February 17 2025, for violent and sexual offences including rape, committed between 2004 and 2022 in the Inner Hebrides, Ross-shire and Moray Firth areas.
A TEXT message offer from an Easter Ross man selling drugs was sent to the wrong person who contacted the police and an arrest was made shortly afterwards.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 21-year-old Sebastian Percival was living in Gordon Terrace, Invergordon at the time in July last year when he was liaising with a Highland Council housing officer about his accommodation.
Fiscal depute Alison Young told Sheriff Gary Aitken that on July 23, the local authority employee received a message from Percival offering to sell her a variety of drugs including ecstasy and asking for cash rather than bank transfer.
"Realising that she had got this in error and that he was involved in selling drugs, she reported it to the police." Mrs Young added.
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