Moray Courts:- Cullen row ends up in court appearance

A Cullen man has been ordered to do unpaid work for the community after he got into a drunken confrontation.

Shortly before 6pm on July 15, Daniel Duthie was asked to leave a premises in the village because he was reportedly being a nuisance.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that the 31-year-old became aggressive and refused.

Among the threats made by him were "I'm going to kill you", and "I'm going to batter you".

The police were called after Duthie finally did leave.

When traced and spoken to later by officers, he said: "It was an argument that got out of hand. Things were said on both sides."

Defence solicitor Matthew O'Neil stated that his client and the other individual involved had known each other for a long time, were friends and had quickly made up again after their argument.

Mr O'Neil wondered whether Duthie might be admonished for the offence, adding: "He accepts his reaction went beyond what was reasonable, but things calmed down relatively swiftly."

However, Sheriff Robert McDonald disagreed.

Speaking directly to the defendant, he said: "Your record puts you in a much more difficult place than you otherwise would be."

Duffie, whose address was given in court papers as Birkenbog Cottages, Cullen, was given a 72-hour community punishment order.

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