Moray alcoholic sentenced over shouting and swearing at elderly mother

A man who called his mother a “f*****g witch” was “genuinely heartbroken” to learn that he would be banned from contacting her, a court has heard.

At Elgin Sheriff Court, Finley Wood was ordered to stay away from his mother for five years over the incident in which he also said it was “about time” she was dead.

He admitted the offences at an earlier hearing, which heard that Wood’s “disgusting behaviour” began when his mum refused to hand him car keys over fears he had been drinking.

At the time, the 46-year-old was living with his mother following the death of her husband.

Solicitor Megan Lee said a social work report prepared ahead of his sentencing showed he was “very reflective and self critical”.

Wood, of Hazel Court Road, Elgin, moved up to Moray several years ago due to “very unfortunate life circumstances”, she said, after a “very successful and lucrative” career in England fell apart.

“He has now lost everything,” she said.

“He had intended very much to have a fresh start in Scotland.

“He is devastated that his actions and his inability to cope at the time with his change in circumstances have not apparently damaged that relationship beyond repair.”

When he learned that he would likely be ordered to avoid all contact with his mother, Ms Lee said: “I would say that he appeared genuinely heart-broken and nearly moved to tears.

Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told Wood that his mother wants “nothing to do with you at this time”.

She added: “I heard on the last occasion the effect that your actions had on your mother.”

However, the 46-year-old’s circumstances had been “unfortunate, certainly, in the last five years.”

Along with imposing a five-year non-harassment order, she placed Wood under social work supervision for one year and ordered him to alcohol counselling.

During the man’s previous court appearance, fiscal depute Karen Poke told the court that Wood began “banging on the door” while looking for the set of car keys.

His mother “barricaded herself in the bedroom using a chair” over his behaviour, the fiscal depute told the court, before calling 999.

She also contacted a friend, Ms Poke added, who described her as “very distressed and crying”.

Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov also described Wood’s actions as “disgusting behaviour” towards an “elderly, grieving lady”.