Death threat left victim 'terrified'
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TWO brothers assaulted and threatened to kill a Balintore man they accused of being a "grass".
Dean Sutherland (23), Argyll Court, Tain, hit Hamish Crawford on the side of the head on his own doorstep.
And three months later, older brother Greig Sutherand (30) climbed into Mr Crawford’s car and repeatedly punched him.
Both brothers threatened to injure and kill him and warned him to "retract" a statement he had made about a criminal matter.
Mr Crawford was left in a "terrified state following the car incident and shaking from the experience", Tain Sheriff Court heard.
Greig Sutherland, who appeared from custody in a wheelchair, was jailed for 200 days after admitting assault, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and hindering officers in the execution of their duty.
Sentence on his brother, who admitted the earlier assault as well as later behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, was deferred for background reports.
The violence against Mr Crawford began on October 28 when Dean Sutherland turned up at his home at 8.45pm. He knocked on the front door and shouted at Mr Crawford to get out of the house or he would come in.
Prosecutor Anna Chisholm said: "Mr Crawford attempted to remove the accused from the door and at that point the accused struck him with his right hand to the side of his head, just behind his ear."
Three months later, on February 2, the brothers were outside the post office on Balintore’s Main Street when Mr Crawford drew up in his car.
The two started shouting and swearing at him. Both called him a grass and told him to retract his statement.
Ms Chisholm said: "This was in relation to another criminal matter involving parties to which each accused made reference."
Greig Sutherland shouted: "I will stab you". Dean Sutherland threatened to kill him. Greig Sutherland then opened the driver’s door, climbed on top of Mr Crawford and repeatedly punched him to the back and ribs.
Mr Crawford eventually managed to put his car in reverse and manoeuvred out of the lay-by where he was parked.
Later the same day police investigating the assault took Greig Sutherland to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, after becoming concerned about his well-being. Ms Chisholm said: "In the toilet he attempted to wrap various cables [attached to him for monitoring purposes] around his neck, causing police to take action, bringing him to the ground." It was claimed he reacted badly to the death of a friend.
Rory Gowans, agent for Dean Sutherland, said he had only one previous conviction for which he had been given a custodial sentence.
Sheriff Chris Dickson said Greig Sutherland’s record "does not make good reading".
The case against Dean Sutherland calls again on May 21.
