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Avoch man slated by Highland sheriff over ‘abhorrent’ behaviour learns his fate





Sheriff Robert Frazer said Cox’s behaviour was “abhorrent”.
Sheriff Robert Frazer said Cox’s behaviour was “abhorrent”.

A retired policeman's son assaulted one of his dad's former colleagues when they tried to arrest him on Boxing Day last year.

Adam Cox, of Rosehaugh High Drive, Avoch had fallen out with his partner and threatened to stab her whilst holding a knife.

The 23-year-old was angry that his partner was not at her home but at a property in Shore Street where he met her in a communal area.

He was holding a knife and she asked him when she saw the blade: "Are you going to stab me?"

Cox replied 'Yes'.

Sheriff Robert Frazer was told the woman managed to leave the scene only for Cox to encounter her later in Grant Street where he put her in a choke hold before punching her in the face twice.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that police officers caught up with Cox on the Kessock Bridge and while they tried to arrest him, he resisted by struggling and head-butted one in the face, causing bruising, fiscal depute David Morten said.

Cox previously admitted charges of threatening behaviour; assaulting his partner on Grant Street; resisting arrest and police assault on the Kessock Bridge.

He also pleaded guilty to refusing a breath test in Burnett Road Police Station following the discovery of his car near the Kessock Bridge where he was arrested.

Defence solicitor Willie Young told the court that Cox's father was a retired police officer and his mother a head teacher and that he came from a good family.

"Alcohol played a significant part in this and he had fragile mental health at the time. He regrets acting in this fashion and would benefit from supervision."

Sheriff Frazer decided to take time over his sentence and ordered that Cox be kept in the court cells until later in the day.

When the case was recalled a couple of hours later, Sheriff Frazer told Cox: "Your behaviour was abhorrent. Only your age saves you from me sending you to prison."

He ordered Cox to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody and remain under social work supervision for two years.

The sheriff also instructed Cox to participate in a rehabilitation programme for domestic abusers and banned him from driving for a year.

In conclusion, he warned Cox if he did not comply with the community payback order, he would be jailed and would face prison as well if there was any repetition of his behaviour.


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