Inverness Justice Centre’s security staff branded ‘overzealous’ after taking man to ground after he pushed past them fearing for his life
A 46-year-old man with a heart condition refused to go through a metal detector at Inverness Justice Centre because it could kill him.
But William Mackenzie, of St Mary's Road, Kirkhill told security staff he had an electronic device implanted in his chest and pushed past them as he had a non-criminal appointment with social workers in the building.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Gunn told Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald at Inverness Sheriff Court, which is within the justice centre, that he was then brought to the ground and began shouting and swearing.
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Mackenzie's lawyer, John MacColl then informed the sheriff that his client actually had a defibrillator fitted because of a heart defect, adding: "If it malfunctions, it can result in him falling into unconsciousness or at the extremist, kill him."
The court heard that Mackenzie had parked his mobility car in a disabled space at the building but hadn't displayed his badge which attracted a rebuke from one of the security staff.
Ms Gunn said that when he came in and was asked to empty his pockets and go through the metal detector he refused.
Mr MacColl explained: "He is entitled to park there and he was bang on time for his appointment. He explained why he could not go through the detector but they were not sympathetic to him.
"He was fed up and it wasn't much of a push past them as he had a cup of coffee in his hand. He started shouting and swearing at them after he was taken to the ground because they said it was to prevent him from kicking off."
Mr MacColl described their behaviour as "overzealous".
But Sheriff Macdonald was critical of Mackenzie, who admitted threatening or abusive behaviour, and was fined £500.
She told him: "You went over and above what is expected of people coming into this building. If you are told to do something by security staff here, then you do it. You behaved appallingly."
