Moray court roundup - Alcoholic’s outburst towards grieving mum, Elgin JD shoplifter threatens staff and man attacked in Elgin Sheriff Court
Our reporters have been busy in court again this week.
Read on as we bring you some of the most notable cases.
Alcoholic called grieving mum a ‘f*****g witch’ after she hid keys
A sheriff has criticised the “disgusting behaviour” of an alcoholic who told his elderly, grieving mother it was “about time she was dead”.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Finley Wood also called his mother a “f*****g witch”, after she refused to give him the car keys over concerns he had been drinking.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke told the court that the man had been living with his mother at her property near Knockando after the death of her husband.
The court heard that the woman was in the bedroom when her son began “banging on the door” while looking for the keys.
At around 11.30pm that evening, the man resumed “hitting and banging on the door again, trying to get the car keys”.
The elderly widow then “barricaded herself in the bedroom using a chair”, the court heard, before calling 999.
Police officers later tracked down the “clearly intoxicated” Wood, who was cautioned, arrested and taken to Elgin police station.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov described Wood’s actions as “disgusting behaviour” towards an “elderly, grieving lady”.
Sentencing of the man was adjourned until May 1, to allow social work reports to be drawn up.
JD Sports shoplifter threatened to stab staff member in the face
A shoplifter threatened to stab a retail worker in the face when confronted outside JD Sports in Elgin.
Alistair McLeod took a bag with him into the store on the Springfield Retail Park at about 4pm on October 24.
Elgin Sheriff Court was told another shopper then saw the 49-year-old “stuffing items of clothing into it”.
Fiscal depute Shay Treanor said: “A short time later the store’s security alarm went off.
“Two of the staff went outside to investigate and were told by a member of the public that the accused was hiding behind a vehicle in the nearby carpark.
“One of them asked to see what was in the bag.
“The accused replied, ‘If you come any closer I will stab your ******* eye out’.
“The staff members went back inside in fear for their safety.”
It was stated in court that McLeod had stolen several jackets worth £790 in total.
However, none of these jackets were ever recovered either by the defendant or by the store.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told him to pay £790 to JD Sports.
In addition, she ordered him to pay £200 in compensation to the staff member he’d threatened.
McLeod was also placed under the court’s supervision for the next two years to monitor his progress.
Man left with head injury after being attacked in court
A man who was attacked in court was repeatedly punched and kicked, resulting in a head injury that left him with a scar.
The details of the assault, which happened in Elgin Sheriff Court on March 24 last year, were given to Inverness Sheriff Court by fiscal depute Susan Love when 26-year-old Lossiemouth man, Tony Arbuthnot, described as a prisoner at HMP Perth, appeared to admit the assault to injury and permanent disfigurement.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald was told that Arbuthnot made a gesture towards the man outside the court building and then followed him inside before unleashing a flurry of blows.
Arbuthnot had his sentence deferred for a background report until May 20 and was again remanded in custody.
His defence solicitor, Stephen Carty, reserved his comments until then.
Town centre assault left victim needing stitches
A middle-aged Moray man kneed and repeatedly punched his victim in the head after being provoked to some degree.
The attack happened at about 10pm on October 13, a matter of yards away from Legends on Forres High Street.
The victim had just been asked to leave the bar, although the reason why was not openly stated at Elgin Sheriff Court.
He was then followed outside by Duncan Welsh who seized him by the collar, pulled him into a doorway and pinned him up against a wall.
Fiscal depute Shay Treanor told the court that the subsequent attack, which was captured on CCTV, went on for about two minutes.
The victim subsequently needed hospital treatment for a cut above an eyebrow which required stitches and has left a permanent scar.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said: “The court accepts you acted under some provocation and that you’re a first-time offender.”
However, due to the extent of the attack, the sheriff ordered Welsh to pay his victim £500 in compensation within the next seven months.
In addition, she also ordered him to carry out 135 hours of unpaid work for the community.
Tesco drink driver seen buying alcohol
A woman who failed a breath test has been banned from the roads and ordered to carry out unpaid work.
At about 8pm on January 22, a vehicle was being driven so slowly around the Tesco car park in Forres that it attracted the attention of a shopper.
Speaking at Elgin Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Shay Treanor said: “Once inside the store this person saw the accused buying alcohol.
“Upon leaving, the witness then got caught behind the same vehicle as they both left the car park.
“The witness became concerned about the manner of the driving and rang 999.”
When the police arrived on the scene they found the vehicle’s bonnet was still warm to the touch.
Carol Bell, its owner, was taken to the police station where a breathalyser recorded an alcohol reading of 112 – more than five times the legal limit of 22.
The 62-year-old, whose address was given in court papers as Riverview Country Park, pleaded guilty to a single charge of drink-driving.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov banned Bell from the roads for 16 months, although this period will be reduced to 12 months if she pays for and passes a drink-driver rehabilitation course.
In addition, the sheriff ordered her to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the community within the next six months.
Traffic officer caught drug driving loses licence
A traffic management officer has lost his licence after police caught him driving under the influence of cocaine.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Patrick Balford, of Pilmuir Road, Forres was stopped by officers at the Milton of Culloden junction with the A96 on the afternoon of July, 29 2024.
Subsequent analysis of the 29-year-old’s blood sample revealed he had a reading of 432mcgs of cocaine in his system when the safe driving limit is 50mcgs.
Sheriff Macdonald fined Balford £640 and banned him from driving for 14 months "because of the very high reading."
Woman charged over fatal crash involving motorcyclist
A driver is to stand trial charged with killing a motorcyclist in a fatal crash.
Dawn McIntosh, 53, is said to have struck Andrew Wright on the A96 Alves to Forres road in Moray on July 30, 2023.
McIntosh, who is from Forres, was behind the wheel of a Hyundai i10 when it is claimed she attempted to overtake a camper van when it was unsafe to do so.
Prosecutors state she failed to maintain a proper lookout and be aware of oncoming traffic.
It is alleged McIntosh eventually went onto the wrong side of the road and into the path of Mr Wright, who was riding his Yamaha motorbike.
This is said to have resulted in her hitting the 34-year-old.
The indictment states Mr Wright, of Elgin, was left so severely hurt that he passed away there.
The case called for a brief hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
McIntosh faces an accusation of causing death by dangerous driving.
Michael Chapman, defending, said: "Mrs McIntosh tenders a not guilty plea to the charge."
The solicitor advocate added he was ready for a trial to be fixed.
Prosecutor Leanne Cross said two witnesses in the camper van that day will give evidence via video link from New Zealand.
Their pre-recorded testimony will then be played to jurors.
Lord Renucci went on to state: "I will fix a trial for February 10 2026 in the High Court in Aberdeen."
The case could last around four days. McIntosh remains on bail meantime.
