Tain man armed with knife threatened to behead reveller at New Year party in Dornoch – over a £30 debt
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A gathering of pals on New Year's Day last year turned violent when a 35-year-old Tain man entered the property and threatened to behead the occupier.
The terrifying incident happened on the afternoon of January 1, 2021 at Pitgrudy Farm, Dornoch, as Billy More was socialising with three others.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told last week that Thomas Easton, of Seaforth Road, Tain, came into the house and there was an argument over a £30 debt.
Fiscal depute David Morton said that Mr More struck Easton on the jaw with both men ending up struggling on the floor.
But when Easton got on top of Mr More, he sat on his chest, and made threats to cut off his head while holding a knife to his throat.
Easton also made threats to burn down the homes of Mr More's family members should he report the incident to the police. He then robbed him of his iPhone.
Easton admitted assault to injury and robbery. Mr More required a total of eight stitches to two lacerations, another was glued and he sustained bruising, the court heard.
Defence solicitor advocate Shahid Latif asked Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald for a restriction of liberty order assessment and a background report for it to include input from his client's psychiatrist.
Sheriff Macdonald deferred sentence and continued bail until September 23, but warned Easton – who admitted previous convictions – he may be jailed. She said: "All options are open to me."
