Elgin court appearance for drunk Moray man who disrupted archaeological dig at Miltonduff

A drunk man was arrested after he caused havoc at an archaeological dig by claiming it was breaking health and safety regulations.

Ronald Gray interrupted the dig taking place near Miltonduff Distillery where a 2,000 year-old Iron Age village has been discovered.

The 63-year-old, who also lives near the site, continued to cause such a nuisance that the archaeologists eventually called the police.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Gray was aggressive towards a pair of officers who arrived at the scene.

Procurator Fiscal Sharon Poke said: “The officers saw him standing in the middle of the road and decided he was intoxicated. He was asked to leave but wouldn’t co-operate.

“They tried to handcuff him but he refused to take his hands out of his pockets.”

The court was told that the officers had to forcibly apply the handcuffs.

It was stated that Gray, who had a background in health and safety, took exception to the way the dig was being conducted.

In response, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov commented: “It’s hardly beneficial for health and safety to have a drunk man on site.”

Gray, who lives at Ballantine Circle, Miltonduff, also pleaded guilty to a separate incident which took place more than two years ago on May 22, 2022.

A couple of neighbours were sat at home at 9.30pm when they heard banging on their living room window and front door.

At first they thought it was their son, but when the man went to the door he instead encountered the defendant stood in the garden.

Gray said: “Go on, have a go.”

The court heard that the witness, who had once been on quite friendly terms with Gray, formed the opinion he was drunk and told him to go home.

By this point Gray had fallen over and was lying in the middle of the road.

However, he then began banging on the windows and door again.

This went on for upwards of fifteen minutes. The couple called the police who arrived at the scene at 10.05pm.

Gray was cautioned and charged, but while being searched he lashed out and kneed one of the officers on the forehead.

In addition to these two incidents, Gray also admitted a further offence of failing to appear in court on Boxing Day, 2022.

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty said his client had “come to the justice system rather late in life”, adding that his drinking had become “problematic” in recent years.

However, the lawyer added, Gray was now seeking help from the Arrows agency.

Sheriff Pasportnikov placed him under the court’s supervision for the next 12 months and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work for the community.

The Iron Age village recently discovered at Miltonduff features evidence of some of the earliest ironworking in Scotland.