Homeless man jailed for abusive behaviour in Inverness
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THREATENING behaviour and comments about violence have landed a homeless man behind bars.
Christopher Beattie was jailed for three months this week after alarming staff at a council service point in Church Street on 5th March.
The 35-year-old became irate after he found that a card he had been given to gain entry to homeless accommodation had been blocked.
Depute fiscal Michelle Molley told Inverness Sheriff Court that he was assigned a member of staff to help with his case but soon began "remonstrating with security staff".
"He was pointing, voices were raised and he was swearing," she said.
The fiscal said the principal housing officer told Beattie they were willing to deal with him but he was intimidating and he was asked to take a seat.
When an officer spoke to him and asked about his past offending he told her he had stabbed someone at his flat.
"She was scared for the people around her. He was quite volatile."
Ms Molley said the police were notified and the housing officer continued her conversation with Beattie until police officers arrived and he was then taken to Burnett Road police station.
Beattie admitted the threatening or abusive behaviour and that he had done so while on bail.
Solicitor Ken Ferguson said Beattie had reacted badly to the problems with his accommodation card and said his client apologised.
Mr Ferguson said Beattie’s offending virtually stopped in 2008 and since then he had only committed two offences. But he was now on remand regarding another matter in Edinburgh. After that was dealt with Mr Ferguson said Beattie hoped to make a fresh start.
Sheriff David Sutherland jailed him for three months.
