Courts in Moray: Drinker demanded Elgin lift from female stranger
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A man who drunkenly banged on a complete stranger's front door and demanded a lift across Elgin has been ordered to pay her compensation.
Alistair Sullivan went up to the woman's house at random at about 11pm on a Sunday night.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that the 44-year-old had been drinking heavily for several hours beforehand.
Procurator Fiscal Victoria Silver said: "The witness went to her front door and opened it with the chain on.
"The accused asked her to give him lift to New Elgin, but she closed the door because she didn't know him.
"She formed the opinion that he was drunk."
Ms Silver stated that Sullivan then tried to force his way inside the house.
He opened the door as far as the chain would allow and began repeatedly demanding a lift.
At one point he shouted: "I'm Ali ****** Sullivan and I just want to go to New ******* Elgin."
He also issued a threat, stating: "I'm going to smash your face in."
At that point the householder, who lives in the Bishopmill area, contacted the police.
In the meantime Sullivan continued demanding to be given a lift, pushing the letter box open and shouting through it.
He also began to shout abuse at someone else who lived nearby.
"I'm going to bite your head off," he threatened the neighbour.
Defence solicitor Iain Maltman stated that Sullivan, who's unemployed, had little to no memory of the incident.
The lawyer said: "What he was saying was essentially nonsense. He's very keen to make compensation."
Mr Maltman added that his client had been involved in an incident during 2016 in which he'd been struck on the head with a hammer.
This, said the lawyer, had adversely affected his mental health.
Sullivan, whose address was given in court as Gordon Street, admitted acting in a threatening manner on November 26 last year and causing damage to a door handle.
He was fined £320.
He was also ordered to pay the householder £150 in compensation.
