A Fort William man who tried to buy drugs in Inverness attacked his dealer when he was denied his illegal purchase.
John MacGillivray, of Lundavra Road, was in the Highland capital and met his supplier and his associates in a lane near Waterloo Place on October 3 last year, Inverness Sheriff Court was told.
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But he got nothing in return when he handed over the cash and was bitten on a buttock by the dealer’s dog.
Defence solicitor Gerry Sweeney told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that this prompted his client to wrestle the dog lead from the dealer and assault him with it.
“He has had difficulties with drug use and alcohol,” Mr Sweeney said. “He is from Fort William and was a bit of a fish out of water in Inverness and he was being taken advantage of.
“The money was taken from him but the drugs were denied.”
Fiscal depute David Morton told the court that the 3.30pm incident was captured on CCTV when the group spilled out of the lane and into Waterloo Place.
“The accused is seen pushing the victim on the body across the road before repeatedly striking him with the dog lead,” Mr Morton said. “A staff member in a nearby newsagent’s shop saw it happening and reported it to the police.
“She heard an argument which seemed to be about money.”
Sheriff Cruickshank was told by Mr Sweeney that MacGillivray was currently serving a sentence with his earliest liberation date being February 21 this year.
Mr Sweeney asked the sheriff not to impose a sentence which would interfere with his client’s date of release.
The sheriff told MacGillivray, who admitted the assault whilst he was on bail: “Given your previous convictions and the number of offences committed while you were on bail which is around 20, this merits a jail sentence.
“But I will backdate it to your date of remand which was October 10.”
MacGillivray (33) was jailed for eight months, which should mean he would be released as scheduled as he is likely to only serve half of that period.