Forres man handed two-month curfew after threatening Elgin Bus Station staff while drinking from green Heineken bottle

A Forres man has been given a two-month curfew after threatening bus station staff and police officers.

Stuart Kitching, 50, appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court following the disturbance at Elgin Bus Station on February 6, 2025.

The court heard that staff saw Kitching acting in a threatening and aggressive manner while drinking from a green bottle of Heineken.

He shouted that he would “batter and burst” staff members and told one he was going to “rip this boy’s head off”.

Kitching was observed pacing up and down the stances while holding the bottle.

Police were contacted and a chase ensued. Officers observed him drinking from the bottle once more before he changed his grip on it as if to use it as a weapon.

They struck the bottle from his hand, causing it to smash and took him to the ground.

During the arrest, Kitching launched a “stream of insults,” again threatening to “batter and burst” an officer and shouting, “I will find you after this”.

While being taken to Elgin Police Station he repeatedly head-butted the inside of the police van.

Defence solicitor Grant Daglish told the court that Kitching’s outburst followed someone “having a go at him” shortly beforehand.

He added that his client recognised he was “too old” to behave in such a way and was now focused on being a “calm family man”.

Kitching was made the subject of a restriction of liberty order which will require him to remain at his home in Forres between 7pm and 7am every day for the next two months.