Night of drinking to soothe PTSD from a stabbing led man to square up to Inverness police officers

A night of drinking to soothe PTSD from a previous stabbing led a man to shout and square up to Inverness police officers.

Christopher Connell (47) repeatedly “got in the faces” of officers in Grant Street, and called them c**** after he contacted them himself at 2.15am on October 24, 2024.

Fiscal depute Shamiela Ghafar told Sheriff Gerard Sinclair the accused had contacted the police, speaking incoherently in slurred speech.

When the police arrived he was sitting on the ground in Grant Street, half on the road and refused to get up and was shouting and swearing.

She said: “He got up, approached police, getting in their faces aggressively, shouting and repeatedly called them c****.”

Connell, of Anderson Street, Inverness, admitted behaving in a threatening manner to cause a person fear or harm.

Defence solicitor Rory Gowans said his client had PTSD after a stabbing in 2022, adding: “He has had intermittent support. He was drinking to excess to blur this and has now been abstaining from alcohol.”

Sheriff Sinclair said: “Taking account this is your first offence, it is somewhat unfortunate at your age.

“I hope you have reflected and learned from this experience.”

Connell was fined a total of £370.