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No detox place for Buckie man who threatened neighbour with fake gun


By Court Reporter

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A MAN who frightened his neighbour by brandishing a fake handgun while singing the theme song to the James Bond movie, Goldfinger has been unable to tackle his alcohol and drug problems because there are no places available for him in Moray.

Jody Bruce (pictured) waved a fake firearm at a former neighbour while singing the theme tune from the movie Goldfinger.
Jody Bruce (pictured) waved a fake firearm at a former neighbour while singing the theme tune from the movie Goldfinger.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson had ordered 43-year-old Jody Bruce, then of Anderson Drive, Buckie to detox from the intoxicants before being sentenced by her at Inverness Sheriff Court.

However, defence solicitor Stephen Carty told the Sheriff that no progress had been made because no place for his client could be found.

The lawyer said: "There is pressure to put a detox programme in place and it is disappointing that we are not further down the line with it."

Sheriff Margaret Neilson. Picture: Andrew Smith
Sheriff Margaret Neilson. Picture: Andrew Smith

Sheriff Neilson commented: "So it hasn't happened yet.

"That was why I deferred it for longer than usual on the last occasion. But he is on a waiting list."

Mr Carty successfully persuaded the Sheriff to impose a community payback order with a review at Elgin on May 24. Sheriff Neilson placed Bruce under 18 months of social work supervision with a condition that he fully engages with the Moray Integrated Drugs and Alcohol Service as he is currently unfit for unpaid work.

The court had previously been told that the incident on February 1 last year in Anderson Drive, Buckie, caused armed response officers to be deployed at around 11pm to deal with Bruce, who admitted a single firearms charge.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Bruce, now of Marr Place, Keith knocked on a former neighbour’s door and pulled out a small black and gold imitation weapon.

The encounter was captured on CCTV, which showed Bruce asking his female neighbour whether she thought he was joking. He then launched into a rendition of Shirley Bassey’s famous Bond theme song.

Fiscal depute Alison Young said Bruce was intoxicated at the time of the offence.

Footage from the camera at the front door shows the woman asking Bruce not to point the gun at her and Bruce can be heard saying “I want help” and “Phone 999 and get me lifted”, Mrs Young said.

She continued: "He then realises he’s on camera and tells her to delete the footage.

"Police were called and armed response officers were deployed, after which the weapon was confirmed to be an imitation gun."

Defence solicitor Stephen Carty said during that court appearance: “My client has battled with alcohol and drugs for most of his life and we have a report from the local drug and alcohol service as well as the background report.

"He was heavily under the influence when this took place and it is accepted it must have been a frightening experience for the neighbour."

Sheriff Neilson then interjected having read the reports, saying: "The drug and alcohol service say they are prepared to bring him in for a residential detox.

"It may be sensible to defer for a period to allow the detox to go ahead. Hopefully he grabs the opportunity with both hands. This is a serious offence and with his record, I would really have no other option other than to impose a custodial sentence."


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