Offshore worked jailed for causing disturbance at Raigmore Hospital
An offshore oil worker was jailed for six months for causing a disturbance at the Accident and Emergency Unit at Raigmore Hospital.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard Richard Watson shouted and swore at people in the waiting area causing them fear and alarm on May 31, last year.
He admitted a similar charge at an address in Torvean Avenue on March 26 when he attended a house there and threatened the occupants with violence.
Watson (24) of Redwood Avenue, Milton of Leys, who appeared from custody, also admitted failing to appear for two court hearings.
Sentence had been deferred for a criminal justice social work report until Thursday and Sheriff Neilson noted in the report he stated the reason for his non-appearance at one of the hearings was he was due offshore and ‘the money was too good to turn down’.
Geoff Main, depute fiscal, said the incident at A&E occurred at 8.10am after Watson had been detained in relation to another matter.
"It is believed he had taken a quantity of medication and was in the waiting room when he became abusive and made obscenities towards members of the public."
The incident in Torvean Avenue, the fiscal said, involved Watson attending at the door and shouting and swearing at the occupants who tried to calm him down, but he threatened them ‘with a kicking’.
Clare Russell, solicitor, said the accused was employed as a technician and earned a significant income and there was a job waiting for him on his release from prison.
She said when the report was compiled social workers had met with him shortly after an epileptic fit.
She said he had to be taken to hospital because he had taken medication for his epilepsy and had also taken alcohol.
He was described as a medium risk of re-offending and had already served time on remand.
Sheriff Neilson told Watson behaviour like that at the A&E would not be tolerated and she jailed him for six months back dated to May 5 when he was remanded.
She also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work on his release from prison and to pay a fine £400.
