Man who punched two women was hallucinating that he was in Afghanistan
A SELF-EMPLOYED fencer from Alness who assaulted four people after a night spent drinking and drug taking, had hallucinations that he was in Afghanistan.
David Greig attacked a man and two women, who were his neighbours and friends, while under the influence of alcohol and LSD. He also attempted to head butt a police officer.
The 25-year-old of Westford, was jailed for nine months at Tain Sheriff Court today after admitting the assaults which he committed while on bail in relation to another matter.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood refused a defence motion to defer sentence to consider Greig’s suitability for a drug treatment programme.
Sheriff Fleetwood said: “He is just a violent man whether high or sober. He can be dealt with today.”
Greig was drinking with friends and took the illegal drug during the evening of 7th April. The assaults took place early the following day.
He had set up his own business as a freelance fencer and landscaper just months previously, the court heard.
Stewart MacIver, prosecuting, said Michael Rae, an acquaintance of Greig, was driving along Kirkhill towards the distributor road at 7.40am on 8th April when he spotted Greig “wandering” around.
Mr MacIver said: “For some reason the accused demanded that Mr Rae turn up the music on his car radio. Mr Rae declined and the accused tried to punch him on the face but Mr Rae was able to put his hands up to protect himself.
“The accused then tried to drag him out of the vehicle but Mr Rae had his seat belt on which made it difficult. He was able to drive away.”
Mr Rae told two family members, Katie Rae and Helen Rae of the incident and the women found Greig at Kirkside and “challenged him about it” only to be assaulted themselves.
Katie Rae was punched on her body and arms and thrown to the ground while Helen Rae was punched on her head, causing her to fall to the ground where she was repeatedly punched and kicked on the head and body.
Fiscal Mr MacIver said: “Fortunately nobody was injured. The women did have the impression that he was under the influence of something other than alcohol.”
Police caught up with Greig after 8am and took him to Burnett Road Police Station, Inverness, where he tried to head butt a police officer as he was getting out of the police vehicle.
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Defence agent Rory Gowans said his client believed he had a problem with recreational drugs and wanted to be considered for a drug treatment programme.
The lawyer said the drink and drugs consumed by Greig had “started to kick in” in the early hours of 8th April and he began hallucinating wildly.
“He has told me that in his own mind he believed he was in Afghanistan. The people involved in the charges are people he was close to as friends and neighbours,” said the lawyer.
“He went on some inexplicable rampage because he got himself intoxicated to the extent he did not know what way was up or down.”
The lawyer said Greig bitterly regretted his behaviour and regarded it as a “wake-up” call. He realised his drug taking had to got to the point it was hurting his fledgling business which had the potential to be successful and to provide work for others.
Greig, who appeared from custody, was currently sober and taking advantage of the facilities on offer to him.
Sheriff Fleetwood imposed six month jail sentences to run concurrently for each of the three assaults and a three month sentence, to run consecutively on the attempted head butting charge.
