Jail for man who punched boy (12) and stole his bike
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A SHERIFF has jailed a man who punched a 12-year-old boy and stole his bike, describing the offence as a particularly "nasty robbery".
William Williamson received a jail term of two years for the offence in Telford Street and was jailed for a further 12 months on other charges including police assault and behaving in a threatening manner at the accident and emergency unit at Raigmore Hospital.
Sheriff David Sutherland had previously deferred sentence for a criminal justice background report.
At a hearing last month, he was told the robbery happened around 9pm on June 19.
Depute fiscal Alex Swain told Sheriff David Sutherland that Williamson was outside a chip shop when he demanded the boy get off his bike before grabbing it by the handle bars.
"When he refused, the accused attempted to head butt him then he punched him on the face knocking him off the bike."
Ms Swain said Williamson then grabbed the bike and rode off before passers-by intervened and stopped him.
Police had been called and when they arrived and arrested him they had to take Williamson to the accident and emergency unit at Raigmore Hospital for treatment to a small cut on his head.
At the hospital Williamson became aggressive calling officers "racists, paedophiles and gay" and he made threats to the police saying he was going to sexual assault their wives and children.
Ms Swain said Williamson then said he needed to use the toilets and there he soaked his hands in urine and flicked it towards the officers and spat at them.
Williamson, of Inverness Prison, had similar previous convictions and his solicitor Clare Russell said he could be sent straight to prison but she asked for background reports to be called for.
The 31-year-old admitted assaulting the boy and robbing him of his bike, behaving in a threatening manner at the hospital and police assault.
Appearing for sentence today, Williamson's solicitor said he was under the influence of a cocktail of substances and was not deemed suitable for a drug treatment testing order.
Sheriff Sutherland told Williamson the attack on the boy was a particularly nasty robbery and assault of a 12-year-old boy.
"Thankfully there were members of the public present who were able to prevent any further distress to the young boy."
Of events at the hospital, he said his conduct was "completely unacceptable" and would have caused distress to staff, members of the public and the police officers.
His sentence was backdated to July 2 when he was remanded in custody.
