Inverness man who hurled racist abuse and got stuck in window after police stand-off avoids jail
An Inverness man who assaulted police officers and hurled racist abuse at them after a stand-off on his roof has avoided jail.
Ross Williamson (37), of Culchunaig Road, Inverness climbed on the roof of a flat in Knocknagael Road on September 15, 2023 while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Police officers, including negotiators, and firefighters were at the scene for several hours as Williamson shouted that “all male police officers at the scene were s****ing the female police officers present”.
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He also told another police officer to ‘get out of Scotland’ and called him an ‘English p****’ whilst spitting at the officers on the ground.
At around 5.20am, Mr Williamson then attempted to get back inside of his flat via a window when he got stuck. Firefighters then had to get him out.
He was then taken to custody where he became unresponsive and was then taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. He then assaulted a female police officer, kicking her in the body.
Defence solicitor Clare Russell told Inverness Sherriff Court that Mr Williamson, who admitted threatening and abusive behaviour and assaulting the officers, has since turned his life around and has undergone an ‘intense detoxification’ and is attending regular recovery meetings.
She said that this was ‘the wake-up call he needed’ and that a custodial sentence could lead to a ‘significant risk of relapse’.
Sherriff Gary Aitken said: “It’s just as well you have done something about your substance abuse under your own steam, as it would have been a custodial sentence after this utter pantomime.”
Mr Williamson was subject to a community payback order of 240 hours of unpaid work and supervision for 18 months.
