Inverness addict is told ‘now the hard work is going to start’ as order is approved

A sheriff has urged an Inverness man to make a success of a drug treatment and testing order and turn his life around.

Peter McCallum (24), who now lives in Alloa after moving from his Inverness home, was told he was “at a crossroads in his life” after being assessed as suitable for the order.

Sheriff Sara Matheson told McCallum at Inverness Sheriff Court this week: “I am pleased that there have been a large number of appointments and you have turned up for them all. Now the hard work is going to start.

“I am going to place you on a drug treatment and testing order for the next 18 months.

“It is up to you what you make of it. If you breach the order, there is only going to be one chance. You will be going to jail.

“I wish you all the best.”

McCallum had previously admitted assaulting two police officers and acting in a culpable and reckless manner by removing his face covering and potentially exposing the officers to Covid-19 on April 20 last year.

Fiscal depute David Morton told the court that police had been called to McCallum’s parents’ house in Mackay Road, Inverness on another matter and found him hiding in a divan bed.

He was told to leave but refused to do so and officers deployed an incapacitant spray on him.

“As he was being removed, he kicked out at officers and struggled with them,” Mr Morton said. “He was subdued and handcuffed.

“At Burnett Road police station McCallum became unwell, an ambulance was called and a mask placed over his face so he could be transported to hospital. He was agitated, removed his mask and coughed a number of times at officers, saying he potentially had Covid 19. He was suffering symptoms that were consistent with the virus.”

It was later confirmed that he did not in fact have Covid-19.

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