Moray knife offender Liam Forsyth jailed for two years for Elgin High Street incident
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A MORAY man was jailed for two years at Inverness Sheriff Court today after admitting his fifth knife crime in 10 years.
Liam Forsyth, described as an Inverness prisoner, but who resides in North Port, Elgin, attacked two teenagers before he himself was beaten up, the court was told.
The 26-year-old then threw a cup of water over a police constable in hospital where he was being treated for his injuries.
Forsyth admitted that on May 23, 2021 in Elgin's High Street, he was in possession of a knife in public without reasonable excuse, punching a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl on the head; and police assault.
Fiscal depute Allison Young told Sheriff Gary Aitken that a group of people, aged between 15 and 20 years of age were socialising near the St Giles Centre in Elgin on May 23 this year when they were approached by Forsyth who was not known to them.
"He engaged in an argument and had a black handled knife in his hand." Mrs Young said.
Forsyth then disposed of the knife in nearby bushes before returning to punching Mr Elphinstone on the nose and then the girl in the face. The knife with an eight inch blade was later found by police in nearby bushes and Forsyth was found lying close to the scene.
Defence solicitor Declan O'Keefe said his client had been punched and kicked 16 or 17 times and was unconscious for several minutes.
"He had been drinking and taking drugs for several days and thought the group were making fun of him because he was so intoxicated. He thought they were going to rob him so he produced the knife to deter them."
Mr O'Keefe said his client got rid of the knife but "he then made the terrible decision to his Mr Elphinstone and the gril. He accepts this was unacceptable and he ended up on the ground being beaten up.
"He reacted to the police in hospital because he thought he had been the victim." Mr O'Keefe went on.
Sheriff Aitken responded: "But he was the instigator."
He told Forsyth, who appeared by video link, "In light of your substantial criminal record there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. You have a conviction from 2011 and in 2014 for possession of a knife, assault to danger of life using a knife in 2016 and again in 2020 for possession of a knife.
"Possession of knives in public is completely unacceptable."
The sentence was backdated to May 24 when Forsyth was remanded in custody.
