Man who spat at police in Inverness given chance to avoid long jail sentence

A HIGHLAND man with a drug problem who spat at police in Inverness promised a sheriff he would go into rehabilitation to avoid jail.

Last month, Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald deferred sentence on Cornelius Stevenson (34), of Kyle of Lochalsh, because she was concerned about his behaviour in Broadford and Burnett Road police station on May 23.

The offences came shortly after he had been released from prison for a similar spitting offence and Sheriff Macdonald wanted to know her options to try and stop him “creating havoc for himself and the community”.

After hearing from defence solicitor Roger Webb and reading the report, she placed Stevenson under supervision for two years with a review in April to see if he kept his vow and co-operated with social workers.

She added: “These are serious and appalling offences which could easily merit a lengthy jail sentence. But I also have to consider if there is a prospect of rehabilitation.”