Thurso first offender fined after ‘verbal exchange’ led to fight

A Thurso resident contacted the police when he saw two men 'grappling' with each other next door.

It landed one of them, first offender Steven Jones, in the dock at Wick Sheriff Court last week.

Jones (24) admitted having behaved in a threatening or abusive manner in Laurie Terrace, Thurso, on August 16, last year. He was fined £150.

Fiscal Depute Grant McLennan said that the accused was passing Paul Kennedy who was working in his garden and there was “a verbal exchange” between them.

Mr McLennan continued: “Jones went into the garden and uttered threats of violence and engaged Mr Kennedy in a fight.”

Solicitor Fiona McDonald said that Jones, who also lives in Laurie Terrace, had not “covered himself in glory” in the remarks he had made to Mr Kennedy but added that the accused’s conduct was out of character.

Sheriff Neil Wilson told Jones: “Your behaviour was unacceptable, I think you now realise that.”