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Wick man admonished after taking advice of sheriff


By Court Reporter

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A Wick man whose lifestyle caused his parents heartache has turned his life around.

Jonathon Robertson was admonished at the town's sheriff court on Wednesday after being given six months in November to demonstrate he could behave and get his life back on track.

The court was told then that Robertson's parents were so concerned about the 27-year-old's behaviour that they reluctantly reported him to the police.

It happened after he turned up at their home in Wick in a drink or drug-fuelled state on July 17, last year. They didn't consider he was in a fit condition to be in their house, let alone to have a sensible conversation with them, and asked him to leave.

Robertson, whose address was given as Four Winds, Kilmister, reacted badly to this, shouted and swore at the couple and damaged a pot plant and emptied their wheelie bin on his way out. He was subsequently arrested.

When Robertson appeared in court last year, Sheriff Robert Frazer heard the background to the accused's behaviour.

Fiscal David Barclay said Robert's parents were very supportive of him but had indicated there had been times when they felt he was heavily under the influence of something and couldn't be reasoned with.

The fiscal continued: "They were sensible enough to realise that their son's problems were not going to go away and they reluctantly decided to contact the police."

Mr Barclay made the point that when Robertson was not affected by drink or drugs he was "a fine guy" and his parents were happy to see him.

The court was told that the accused had been struggling with substance and alcohol abuse at the time of the offence but was turning his life around and was no longer drinking or taking drugs. The accused was a gas engineer and hoped to move to Inverness in connection with his employment.

Sheriff Frazer took Robertson to task and didn't mince his words.

He told the accused that his conduct was "completely unacceptable" and continued: "You go round to your parents' house and behave like this, leaving them no option but to phone the police. Can you imagine the pain and distress you cause them when you behave in this way?

"They are worried about you. I want them to see that you are making something of your life and are repaying the love and attention that they have given you throughout your life."

Sheriff Frazer advised Robertson to telephone his parents and establish whether they wanted to have contact with him, as a first step. "Then, apologise to them and send them a nice bunch of flowers."

However, the sheriff warned: "If you mess up and upset them again – expect no sympathy."

Solicitor Alex Burn told the court on Wednesday that Robertson had taken the sheriff's remarks on board.

The accused was still drink and drug-free and had, in fact, secured employment in the Inverness area. He had made his peace with his parents, and as suggested, had said it with flowers.

Sheriff James Mulgrew, who dealt with Robertson's case on Wednesday, saw an updated background report.

He said: "You seem to have done what the court ordered previously, so I think that admonishing you would be an appropriate way of dealing with this case."


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