Inverness man tells sheriff he won't do unpaid work

An Inverness man told a sheriff "I am not going to do it" after being ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work.

Campbell Freeman, of Knocknagael, was appearing for sentence at Inverness Sheriff Court after being found on the route to his former boss's house with a baseball bat on July 5 last year.

Freeman had just been sacked by his managing director and made threats towards her which resulted in the woman phoning the police.

Sheriff Robert Frazer noted that 58-year-old Freeman had a bad record for violence involving weapons and the possession of same.

Defence solicitor Willie Young said: "He has health issues which prevents him from working. He was emboldened by alcohol and dealt with the situation badly. His record does him little credit but he is embarrassed by his actions.

"He has been out of trouble since."

Sheriff Frazer told Freeman he was going to place him on a community payback with a year's social work supervision and unpaid work.

Freeman, who admitted having an offensive weapon in a public place, said from the dock: "I am not going to do it. I am not doing unpaid work. I am not doing that."

Sheriff Frazer told Freeman: "I am giving you a chance. It is that or a custodial sentence. I will set a review for a few weeks time."

Freeman shrugged his shoulders and repeated his unwillingness to co-operate. He will have to return on September 7 when the sheriff will be told whether Freeman has done any of the work.