Man facing PTSD consumed alcohol before verbally abusing police in Inverness. He was fined £370 for his actions.
A man, Christopher Connell, had too much to drink. He was trying to cope with PTSD from a past stabbing. This happened in Inverness.
Connell, age 47, yelled at police officers and got very close to them on Grant Street. He called them names, specifically “c****”. He contacted the police initially at 2:15 AM on October 24, 2024.
The prosecutor, Shamiela Ghafar, spoke to Sheriff Gerard Sinclair. She said Connell spoke unclearly and his words were slurred when he called the police. Police found him sitting in Grant Street, partly on the road.
He would not stand up and shouted and cursed. Ghafar said he got up and approached the police aggressively, repeatedly yelling insults at them.
Connell, from Anderson Street, admitted his behavior. He admitted he caused fear or harm and behaved in a threatening way.
His lawyer, Rory Gowans, explained his PTSD, referring to a stabbing back in 2022. He said Connell drank to forget, but now avoids alcohol completely.
Sheriff Sinclair commented on the situation, noting this was Connell’s first offense and expressed regret at his age. Sinclair hoped Connell learned from this and reflected on what he did.
The court fined Connell £370.