Highland man told Inverness police officers that they would be getting ‘a cartel death’

A Highland man told Inverness police officers that they would be getting ‘a cartel death’ after they arrested him for kicking-off at the Coop.

Malcolm Watson (38) shouted and swore at security workers and staff inside the Church Street shop before he was ushered out by an off-duty security staff member on December 29, 2023.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Watson then hit the female security staff after she had pulled him out of the shop and an off-duty, plain-clothed police officer ran over to help restrain him.

Police were then called, and he made threats of violence towards them including telling them ‘I’m going to break your f****** jaw’ and ‘your house will be burned to the ground’.

Fiscal depute Adelle Grey told Sheriff Gary Aitken: “The accused was shouting at security officers and the witness went to usher Watson outside the Coop.

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“She restrained him and pulled him out. The accused swung around and hit the witness.

“After that the accused Watson ran over the road and the witness restrained him on the wall of the Highlander.

“A plain-clothed police officer ran over to restrain him.

“The accused was arrested and made a number of the police officers.

“These included ‘scumbag wan***’, ‘I’m going to find you, your mother and girlfriend’ and ‘the Albanians will smash your face in’.”

Watson of Lochaber Road, Fort William, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, assaulting the security worker witness and a second charge of threatening behaviour three officers.

Sheriff Aitken ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Watson’s defence solicitor Clare Russell said: “He accepts full responsibility for his actions.

“When sober he is a very pleasant and intelligent gentleman, however he was clearly not sober when this happened.”

Watson’s co-accused Demi MacLennan attacked the off-duty police constable and kicked her on the head as she lay on the ground is due to be be sentenced next on April 17.

MacLennan, of Union Street admitted the assault which included striking the constable on the head, seizing her by the hair, dragging her to the ground, scratching her face and in her mouth with her finger.

It occurred on the same date in Church Street, Inverness. She also pleaded guilty to later behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and making racist remarks in the Burnett Road Police Station cell block car park.