'Stiff door' excuse for Inverness man breaking overnight bail curfew

An Inverness man who broke his bail curfew twice by not being at home at night has avoided custody.

Peter McAllister (44) was arrested when his electronic monitoring tag alerted the authorities he was not at home between 7pm and 7am when he should have been, and he appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court today.

McAllister, of Bught Drive, Inverness, admitted both offences.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke told Sheriff Gary Aitken that on the first occasion McAllister was not at home at around 3am and told police he had gone with another man to view a car, their car broke down, and a friend coming to collect them got lost.

For his second reason, Miss Poke told the court that McAllister told police he had a new door fitted at his bail address and it was "too stiff for him to open it".

As defence solicitor Willie Young rose to plead McAllister's case, Sheriff Aitken said: "As far as the excuses given are concerned they take some believing... viewing a car in the early hours?"

Mr Young acknowledged that McAllister "knew he is treading on thin ice" and was well aware if he steps out of line again he will be facing custody.

Sheriff Aitken told McAllister: "The great thing about the electronic tags is they know fine when you are not at home.

"Both your explanations are not the most compelling in the world you will be aware.

"Stay at home at night – especially if you have a stiff door."

He fined him £320, reduced by £100 because of McAllister's early guilty plea.