Moray man admits threatening and abusive behaviour at Travelodge and Premier Inn
A man experiencing “paranoid delusion” told a Travelodge receptionist he would starve his dog for four days so it would “eat her”, a court has heard.
Robert Sutherland admitted making the remarks, along with telling a separate receptionist there were “snipers on the roof”, at Elgin Sheriff Court.
The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of behaving in a “threatening or abusive manner” over the incidents.
Sutherland’s behaviour, the charges state, included acting in an “aggressive manner” towards hotel staff, staring, making threats and uttering an “abusive remark”.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov deferred sentencing for six weeks, to allow for a report from the man’s GP to determine whether his “paranoid views” could have stemmed from past “alcohol misuse”.
Fiscal depute Victoria Silver said Sutherland attended the Travelodge on Coxton Road on January 7 to ask for a room.
After telling staff that he would not have money to pay for it until later that day, the man was told he could sit in the bar until the money was available.
However, Ms Silver added, a staff member became concerned after she saw him “mumbling to himself and pointing at cars in the car park.”
The fiscal depute added that staff then “advised him that if he did not have funds he would have to leave.”
In response, Sutherland “menancingly” said: “I know who you are.”
After being warned by hotel workers that they would be forced to call the police, the man replied: “Go on then, go on then.”
Ms Silver added that police then attended the hotel.
Two days later, on the morning of January 9, Mr Sutherland phoned the Travelodge again to book a room but - not recognising his voice - a staff member recommended he “come to the hotel and pay for the room”.
But when Sutherland appeared outside the hotel, she closed the door and indicated he was “not welcome”, but had to open the door after another hotel customer arrived.
“The accused had managed to enter the hotel,” Ms Silver added.
The court heard that Sutherland, of Langstane Place, Elgin, told the “scared” woman that he could arrange people to “pick her up and take her to him so he could sort her out”.
Police were again called to the hotel, who removed the man from the premises.
On the same morning, the on-duty receptionist at Elgin’s Premier Inn learned that Sutherland had stayed at the hotel the previous night.
“Officers had attended but took no further action, and accused had been allowed to stay,” Ms Silver said.
The court heard that, when the man returned later that day, he: “Stared intently at her and said there were snipers on the roof and he had paid someone to come and get her.”
Though the staff member was “alarmed by the comment”, Sutherland left and no further action was taken at the time.
Several days later, the court heard, Sutherland returned to the Premier Inn asking for a refund after he did not use a previous booking.
After the receiption told him she could not organise a refund, the man was also denied an overnight stay at the hotel instead.
Sutherland then “left whilst mumbling to himself,” Ms Silver added.
However, he later returned to the Premier Inn wearing different clothing with a dog he tied up outside.
Speaking to the same receptionist, he was again refused an overnight stay.
“The accused replied that he would starve his dog for four days and then get his dog to eat her,” Ms Silver said.
The member of staff had been “alarmed by this”.
Police were concerned that Sutherland’s behaviour was “escalating”, the fiscal depute added, and attended both the Travelodge and the Premier Inn.
Sutherland’s solicitor Stephen Carty argued it was “apparent” that “some form of paranoid delusion” contributed to the man’s actions.
“Whilst the comments are shocking, it is not clear that Mr Sutherland appreciates the effect that these comments have on people,” he added.
Sheriff Olga Paspornikov deferred sentencing for six weeks and called for a report from Sutherland’s GP, to determine whether previous “alcohol misuse” could have had a “long term impact” on his mental state.
The sheriff said a psychiatric report contained repeated references to “paranoid views”, and that his behaviour was “apparently not drug-induced”.
However, she added: “Starving the dog for four days is very specific, and concerning.”
She had been considering a community payback order, she added, but worried that the man may not be able to meaningfully engage with requirements.
