Inverness man jailed for drugs row stabbing

A sheriff has jailed a man after a row over a drugs deal ended in a stabbing in Inverness.

Ross MacDougall thought he had purchased a gram of cocaine from Gary MacDonald but later discovered it was paracetamol.

They later met up in Hilton Crescent but MacDougall had taken a steak knife from a friend’s house.

He stabbed Mr MacDonald in the chest.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard Mr MacDonald had suffered no long term effects from the attack.

However, depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart said the wound in his chest was eight centimetres deep and a consultant surgeon said he was ‘very lucky’ because the knife had narrowly missed vital arteries.

MacDougall (27), c/o HMP Inverness, previously appeared from custody and admitted assaulting Mr MacDonald at Hilton Crescent on October 18 by pushing him to the ground and repeatedly stabbing him on the body with a knife to severe injury and danger of his life.

He also admitted a breach of curfew at the time of the incident.

Sentence had been deferred for background reports until today (Friday).

At the earlier hearing Sheriff David Sutherland was told MacDonald also suffered a seven centimetre superficial wound to his cheek and a one centimetre wound to his shoulder blade.

The wound to his chest had a two centimetre entry point and as a result Mr MacDonald suffered from a collapsed lung.

The court heard how MacDougall had been drinking with friends then went to an address in Hilton Crescent and later went to the Scotmid Store in Balloan Road to purchase more alcohol.

They also met Gary MacDonald to purchase cocaine but when they returned to the address in Hilton Crescent they later realised they had been given paracetamol.

A phone call was made to Mr MacDonald.

"The call ended with them arranging to meet up for a fight," said the fiscal.

MacDougall brought a knife with him and during the fight in Hiton Crescent he stabbed Mr MacDonald.

The victim was able to get a taxi home but was later taken to the city's Raigmore Hospital by his mother.

Inquiries the following day led police to the hospital and an investigation followed.

When MacDougall was detained he told police: "I just hope the boy is okay. It’s totally out of character for me. I had a lot to drink. There’s things I can’t remember, but I’ve done that; it’s just unbelievable."

On Friday, Shaid Latif, solicitor, said there was little he could on his behalf in mitigation regarding the offence.

"He recognises there was no justification for what was a disgraceful act of violence."

Mr Latif referred Sheriff Sutherland to the contents of the report which showed MacDougall demonstrated genuine remorse and there were no lasting consequences of his actions for Mr MacDonald.

Mr Latif referred to emotional distress as a result of a ‘traumatic event’ as a youngster suffered by MacDougall but he was not going to elaborate on that in court.

He said: "He never came to terms with what befell him and his escape route was a coping mechanism.

"He used intoxicants to forget and cope."

Mr Latif said MacDougall enjoyed a period of stability and worked in Shetland but he returned to drugs after the end of a relationship.

He accepted custody was the only option.

Sheriff Sutherland said it was a serious matter and anyone using a knife must accept the only possible disposal was custody.

He jailed him for 16 months backdated to October 21.

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