Highlander who celebrated birthday with Inverness lap-dancers is sentenced

A lonely North Kessock man who decided to celebrate his birthday in the company of two lap-dancers in an Inverness nightclub forgot he had a multi-tool in his pocket.

But 40-year-old Jamie Ross drank too much and Inverness Sheriff Court heard that after his session with the hostesses finished, he presented it at bar staff when they tried to prevent him making his way back to the VIP area.

At a previous hearing, fiscal depute Pauline Gair told Sheriff Gary Aitken that the Private Eyes bar manager was heading for the VIP area to be paid for another booking on the night of January 5, 2023 and was followed by Ross.

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"He was asked to leave,” she said. “But the accused approached the bar manager, raised his hand in which he had a multi-tool. The bar manager grabbed his right hand and managed to push him down onto a couch and pin him down until other staff came to assist."

Police were called and Ross, of Ferry Brae, was arrested and charged.

Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif told the court: "On that day he had been working at his sister's and used the multi-tool. His relationship had come to an end and he was trying to keep himself busy.

"He felt depressed as he had no-one to celebrate his birthday with and went to the club. There has been nothing before or after this."

Ross admitted assaulting the bar manager by presenting the multi-tool at him and sentence was deferred for a background report.

When he re-appeared before the sheriff, Mr Latif added: "He is thoroughly ashamed. Social workers categorise this offence as being out of character and he has taken steps to temper his use of alcohol."

Fining Ross £1675, Sheriff Aitken told the first offender: "I sincerely hope you have learned your lesson and to pay attention to what you have in your pocket when you go out on the town. If you cannot control yourself or your drinking, you or others may suffer."