Courts in Moray: Drug-fuelled Forres man raked through bins then crashed car

A long night of bizarre drug-fuelled behaviour ended with a defendant being picked up by the police while walking home.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Colin Sutcliffe, who used to live in Forres, began unwittingly drawing attention to himself the previous evening at Sandend Caravan Park near Banff.

A woman who stepped out to walk her dog saw the 30-year-old standing next to the toilet block.

After realising he'd been spotted, Sutcliffe tried to hide.

Fiscal depute Emma MacEwan said: "The accused ran around the side of the toilet block.

"The witness thought this was odd and went back to her home address to inform her husband and daughter."

Other witnesses saw Sutcliffe going through a green bin shortly afterwards.

One approached and asked what he was doing.

Sutcliffe replied: "I'm not doing anything."

The witness continued: "Why are you going through the bin?"

Sutcliffe stated: "I'm looking for my bird."

Later, a car engine was heard being revved excessively.

There was also a "fierce grinding" as the defendant struggled to put the vehicle into gear.

Sutcliffe then reversed at speed into a wooden fence.

The car became stuck and he began revving the vehicle again for several minutes in an attempt to get free.

One of the witnesses called the police.

At about 6am the following morning a female employee starting work at a farm about a mile away found that kitchen cupboards had been left open.

The member of staff also found a mobile phone and a knife had been left lying around.

Sutcliffe was seen walking about the farm not long afterwards, wearing clothing belonging to the farm – although it wasn't specified exactly what in court.

When the witness approached, he didn't seem to know where he was or how he'd got there.

The woman informed him she had his phone and asked Sutcliffe to take off the items of clothing that weren't his own.

Sutcliffe complied and the witness noted that he had on black jogging bottoms.

A description was supplied to the police after he left.

Officers subsequently traced Sutcliffe walking besides the A98.

While in the police car, he asked: "Can you get my phone back? That lady said she had it."

Defence solicitor Grant Dalgleish said his client, who now lives in Morvenview Road, Gardenstown, had no memory of the night and couldn't explain his actions.

The court heard that Sutcliffe had already spent 78 days in prison on remand after failing to turn up at a previous court appearance.

With this in mind, Sheriff Paspotnikov admonished him and imposed five penalty points on his driving licence.