Inverness Sheriff Court round-up: Man giving evidence sobs at fatal accident inquiry; jail term for ‘incredible act of dog cruelty’; and sex offender awaits fate
It was another busy week for Inverness Sheriff Court.
Here's our recap of some of the cases that made the headlines last week.
‘I am so sorry’ sobs safety adviser at inquiry into tragic death of nursery teacher
A health and safety adviser for a construction company broke down in tears during a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the horrific death of Chloe Morrison, who died after a part of a lorry struck her as she walked with her mother near Loch Ness.
Darren Van der Boon was giving evidence at Inverness Sheriff Court when he suddenly began weeping and turned to the woman’s parents and sister in the public benches and sobbed: “I am so sorry.”
Mr Van der Boon (36) had just told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that he was with the lorry driver John O’Donnell in the Glenevin Construction yard near Aberdeen. when the driver did his “walk round” pre-journey checklist to his vehicle - and that list did not include having to check whether the outriggers on the lorry-loader crane fitted to the truck were securely stowed.
He said he had accompanied O’Donnell because the driver was quite new to the company.
It was during this evidence that the safety adviser broke down and said: “I could have made improvements [to the check list]. I have played this in my head every day for five years” - and turning to Chloe’s parents Robert and Karen and sister Jodie he made his tearful apology.
Lorry driver O’Donnell, from Aberdeenshire, was convicted by a High Court jury at Inverness two years ago of causing Chloe's death by careless driving.
‘Incredible act of cruelty’ - Jail sentence for man who starved dog to death
A Nairn man who allowed a dog to starve to death after being asked to look after it for its owner has been jailed for seven months.
Brian Farmer (25), of Church Street, Nairn appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court in July last year and pleaded guilty to causing the dog unnecessary suffering by failing to provide it with access to food or water whereby it starved to death.
He also admitted abandoning the dog.
Farmer was sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid community work and to remain under social work supervision for a year. But Inverness Sheriff Court was told that he failed to co-operate with the community order and it was breached.
When he appeared before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald for sentencing on the original cruelty crime, she revoked the order and replaced it with the prison sentence, such was her disgust at the offence.
Inverness sex offender who touched up teen while babysitting awaits fate
A 40-year-old Inverness sex offender has had his sentence again deferred by a sheriff who is considering imposing a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Phillip Moir, of Sinclair Park, had been due to be dealt with at Inverness Sheriff Court after a background report had been prepared.
But Sheriff Gary Aitken told defence solicitor Marc Dickson that apart from the recommendation for a rehabilitation programme being suggested in the report, he was also considering the SHPO.
He agreed to give Mr Dickson time to consider any representation he wanted to make and Moir will re-appear on November 22.
Pleas to stop ignored as woman knocked out twice only to be roused and beaten further each time
A 25-year-old Inverness man who savagely attacked his ex partner and tried to throttle her last summer will be sentenced next month, after being jailed for 40 months last week for beating up the same woman a second time earlier this year.
Sheriff David Harvie criticised William MacFarlane, of Mackay Road, Inverness for "kicking her head and body like a football" on February 11 this year after he went to her home in Parkfield View, Inverness.
He had denied assault to severe injury and danger of life but was convicted by a jury after a three-day trial.
MacFarlane re-appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court this week but before Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald on this occasion and admitted a similar charge which occurred on June 20, 2023.
Sheriff leaves owners to take civil action after hearing £7k damage caused to holiday let - despite culprit offering compensation
An argument with his brother annoyed a 20-year-old Inverness man so much that he began to trash the holiday let property he was visiting in the city and caused over £7000 worth of damage.
Jaq Hodgson, of Cameron Barracks, Old Perth Road, first smashed a hanging glass fitting which badly cut his hand.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that he began flicking the blood all over the walls and doors before wrecking a TV set, scattering water all over the floor and smashing another light fitting. Police were called and Hodgson was arrested.
