Police officers struck drug addict with a baton to force him to drop knife, Inverness Sheriff Court told
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Police officers struck a man on the thigh with a baton to force him to drop a knife he was holding.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that 41-year-old addict Stewart Rattray, of Upper Kessock Street, had gone to a nearby property to buy drugs on July 28 last year.
Sheriff Sara Matheson was told that the routine for the transaction was to go to the window and hand over the cash.
But defence solicitor Marc Dickson explained that his client told him the knife was on the
window sill outside and he picked it up.
"He panicked when he was confronted by the police and hid it behind his back."
Fiscal depute Robert Weir said: "Police had been called to the property after a report of a man banging on the window.
"When they saw Rattray holding a knife, they approached him and withdrew their PAVA spray and batons.
"He turned to face them and hid the knife behind his back, so he was struck on the thigh with a baton. He dropped the knife which had a four-inch-long fixed blade."
Rattray admitted possessing a knife in a public place without reasonable excuse.
Mr Dickson asked the sheriff to defer sentence for reports, including an initial assessment for a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO).
"He is a widower and since his wife passed away several years ago, he has struggled with drug addiction, which is compounded by alcohol," he said.
"He is now at the stage of his life that he knows he has to address his issues because when he offends he is just getting longer and longer prison sentences."
Sheriff Matheson agreed to defer sentence for a background report and an initial DTTO.
She remanded Rattray in custody until December 10 for them to be prepared.
