Wick fisherman facing six charges including police assault and disorderly behaviour
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A WICK fisherman is facing a total of six charges of police assault, disorderly behaviour and causing damage.
It followed incidents in the town's Wellington Street, at Caithness General Hospital and in Wick Police Station on Thursday.
Andrew Mackay (33) appeared from custody at the town's sheriff court on Friday. His solicitor, Patrick O'Dea, entered pleas of not guilty to all the charges.
These allege that he punched Alexander MacAlpine in Wellington Street and attempted to strike him with a hammer, which the accused is said to have used to smash a glass panel of a door in the street, and kicked PC Darren Shield on the head and body.
Mackay, of Cairndhuna Terrace, Wick, is further charged with assaulting PC Becky Dickson at Caithness General Hospital by attempting to head-butt her.
He is also alleged to have behaved in a threatening or abusive manner at the hospital and to have repeatedly shouted and sworn at officers, threatening them with violence, and later attempted to head-butt Constable Stephen Todd at Wick Police Station.
Sheriff Andrew Berry was advised that Mackay could be at sea for weeks at a time.
He granted the accused bail with a daily 7pm-7am curfew when he is ashore but he will require to contact the police 24 hours prior to each fishing trip. Mackay will stand trial on January 26.
Fiscal David Barclay told the court that there was a further allegation of assault in Orkney, involving the accused, being prepared at petition level.
