Inverness drug addict who had knife in street was disarmed by police using baton
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A SHERIFF who reluctantly released a drug addict from prison for the second stage of a drug treatment order assessment wished him “all the best” when told he was “highly motivated”.
Sheriff Sara Matheson expressed her reservations about freeing Stewart Rattray (41), of Carnarc Crescent, into the community last month.
The assessment required to be done by social workers with Rattray at liberty and his lawyer Marc Dickson told Inverness Sheriff Court: “It shows a high level of motivation by him to get rid of his long-standing addiction.”
Sheriff Matheson agreed to put Rattray on a two-year order and the court will be told his progress on February 14.
Sheriff Matheson told Rattray: “You took the opportunity I gave you and you have demonstrated good motivation. But this is your last chance. Custody is once again beckoning if you don’t do well. All the best.”
Rattray had previously admitted possessing a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse.
The court was told that police officers had to strike him on the thigh with a baton to force him to drop the knife he was holding.
Sheriff Matheson heard that Rattray had gone to a property in Upper Kessock Street to buy drugs on July 28 last year.
Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said that the routine for the transaction was to go to the window and hand over the cash.
But the lawyer explained that his client told him that the knife was on the window sill outside and he picked it up.
He added: “He panicked when he was confronted by the police and hid it behind his back.”
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said: “Police had been called to the property after a report of a man banging on the window.
“When they saw Rattray holding a knife, they approached him and withdrew their PAVA spray and batons.
“He turned to face them and hid the knife behind his back, so he was struck on the thigh with a baton. He dropped the knife which had a four-inch long fixed blade.”
