Alarm after man spotted with 'gun' in Inverness street
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Members of the public in an Inverness city centre street were alarmed when they saw a man with what looked like a black handgun.
But after police were called to Baron Taylor's Street on December 15 last year, it was discovered that Alan Craig (56) of Muirtown Street, Inverness had an imitation weapon.
Craig was on bail at the time but failed to comply with an undertaking to police that he was to attend at Inverness Sheriff Court on January 11.
He was taken into custody and appeared before Sheriff David Harvie yesterday to admit both offences. He also admitted previous convictions.
He was represented by Duncan Henderson who asked the court to defer sentence and call for a background report.
Sheriff Harvie agreed but was unsure whether or not to further remand Craig because of his earlier failure to co-operate.
Mr Henderson said his client was aware he had to attend for the report otherwise he would be remanded in custody again if he didn't.
He added: "The background to this is he had been playing with the gun, put in in his pocket and forgot it was there."
Sheriff Harvie told Craig: "Whether you describe it as a toy or not, clearly it would cause alarm to the public."
And he told Craig to return for sentence on March 2, warning him that if he didn't turn up for the social work interview, he would be remanded for it to be done.
