Moray Courts – Homeless man was arrested for town centre disturbance

A homeless man who caused a disturbance in a Moray town centre has been released from custody.

Joseph Grant was arrested on Forres High Street late in the evening on December 23 after he refused to stop shouting and swearing.

The 62-year-old who was described as being of no fixed abode appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court via a video camera, having been kept on remand at Inverness Prison since his arrest.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke told the court the defendant had been “very hostile” towards police officers.

She added: “He was shouting and swearing and repeatedly rejected attempts to get him to desist.”

Grant admitted a charge of breaching the peace as well as breaking a bail condition, placed on him at Inverness Sheriff Court on December 12, to stay out of trouble.

His defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank said: “He’s sorry and he sends his apologies to the officers concerned.

“It was a nuisance and the police shouldn’t have to put up with it, but it didn’t go beyond that.”

Grant was given a six-week jail sentence. However, given the time he has already spent on remand, added to a reduction for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, he was told he’s be set free the same day.

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