Inverness roofer got his job back after going 'off the rails'
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A 38-year-old Inverness man got his job as a roofer back after he was sacked for taking illicit substances and getting into trouble with the police.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that William Sutherland of Springfield Gardens, Inverness, had also managed to reconcile with his partner after she kicked him out of her home on June 25, 2022.
Sutherland appeared for sentence by Sheriff Gary Aitken who ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work after he admitted three charges of threatening or abusive behaviour, one of resisting arrest and a breach of bail.
Fiscal depute Adele Gray told the court that on May 21, 2021, Sutherland attempted to start a fight and was warned by police.
But a little later, he was seen to be following the people he had engaged with in Church Street, shouted and challenged them to fight.
"When he was arrested, he began to struggle with the police," Mrs Gray said.
She also narrated the circumstances of a June 17, 2021 incident when Sutherland began shouting and swearing at a group of people in Castle Street and challenging them to fight.
The third incident of threatening or abusive behaviour was targeted at his partner when he demanded money from her.
"He threw a chair across the kitchen floor," Mrs Gray said. "She asked him to leave and pushed him towards the door where he punched a light switch and damaged the wall.
"She then put out his shoes which he threw against the house wall."
Defence solicitor Rory Gowans said: "By his own admission, he went off the rails for a limited time and he was using illicit substances.
"He has now been substance free for 10 months, his employers gave him his job back and he has reconciled with his partner."
