Ross-shire man avoids prison at Inverness Sheriff Court after admitting threatening or abusive behaviour
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A SHERIFF told a Ross-shire man with five previous convictions for domestic abuse he was close to being jailed after another similar offence.
But because 50 year old seaman, Calum MacInnes of Teandallon Square, Evanton, was taking steps to address his problem drinking, Sheriff Gary Aitken decided to impose 200 hours of unpaid community work instead.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that MacInnes worked six weeks on and six weeks off his ship and would drink to excess during that on-shore period.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke said that on the night of September 27 this year, MacInnes’ partner was mourning the recent death of her mother and a friend had come to her house to express his condolences.
“MacInnes became jealous and accused her of having an affair. She went to a neighbour’s house.” Ms Poke said.
MacInnes, who was intoxicated, followed her there to apologise and they returned to their house.
However, MacInnes’ partner went back to the neighbour’s a second time saying she had taken an overdose because she had had enough, only for MacInnes to turn up with a piece of wood, Ms Poke added.
“He was banging on the door and they were in fear of what would happen so they called the police,” Ms Poke went on.
She said that when officers arrested MacInnes, he began shouting and swearing at them.
MacInnes admitted threatening or abusive behaviour and his solicitor, Roger Webb, said: “When sober he is a perfectly good member of society.
“When he has one drink, he can’t stop. He recognises this problem and has taken steps to address it by engaging with the social work for help with his alcohol abuse.
“I am asking the court to give him one last chance,” Mr Webb continued.
Sentencing MacInnes, Sheriff Aitken told him: “You need to break your relationship with alcohol or it will harm your health and continue to lead you into the criminal courts.
“You are very close to a custodial sentence today but you are taking steps to deal with it so I will impose unpaid work.”
