Wick Sheriff Court round-up – Thurso man denies axe charge and woman fined for racist abuse
Axe charge is denied
A Thurso man has been charged with having an axe in his possession.
Joseph Howcroft (42) pleaded not guilty at Wick Sheriff Court on Monday and will stand trial on January 21.
The offence is alleged to have occurred at St John’s House, in Stainland Drive, Thurso, where he lives, on July 19.
Man denies driving offences
A Thurso man has been accused of driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Nathan Strother (29) denied having committed the offences in the town’s Mayfield Road, where he lives, on March 15.
Strother will stand trial at Wick Sheriff Court, on March 18.
Fine over racist abuse
A Thurso woman has been fined a total of £750 after she admitted charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and resisting arrest.
Zoe Henderson (39) was said to have shouted and sworn at a person and made racial remarks.
The offences occurred in Albyn Court and Falconer Waters Court, both Thurso, on July 30, Wick Sheriff Court heard.
Sheriff Neil Wilson told Henderson that while a background report found that she had no “underlying difficulties”, her conduct was “serious and entirely unacceptable.”
Hopes to avoid trial
A Watten man has denied a charge of sending a woman indecent pictures and making sexual remarks to her.
Donald Swanson (42), of South Dunn, Lannergill Road, Watten, is due to stand trial at Wick Sheriff Court on February 18.
However, Sheriff Neil Wilson was advised this week that discussions were ongoing between the prosecution and defence in the hope of producing a change of plea and avoiding the need for a trial.
The offence is said to have taken place between December 16 and 23, 2022.
Not guilty plea to assault
A Caithness man is to stand trial on a charge of serious assault.
Eddie Dwayne Macgregor (29) tendered a plea of not guilty at Wick Sheriff Court on Monday, via a video link with Inverness Prison.
The indictment alleges that he repeatedly kicked and punched Graham Bain to his severe injury and danger to his life, outside the Pulteney Centre in Wick on August 2.
Solicitor Natalie Paterson will conduct Macgregor’s defence before a jury during the week starting April 28.