Man jailed for row at last year’s event

A drunken man who caused mayhem at last year’s Crieff Highland Gathering, claiming he was armed with a blade, was jailed for a total of 270 days at Perth Sheriff Court last week.

The court was told that thousands of patrons were present that afternoon at the Market Park event.

Stewards contacted police for assistance around 4.15pm after the accused, of Sauchie Place, Crieff, had been refused admission and became“uncooperative”.

Officers were quickly on the scene and discovered Liam Lamont, described as“severely intoxicated,” surrounded by four stewards.

“He had his fists clenched and there was saliva around his mouth,” explained depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston.

“He was confrontational and refused to leave of his own accord.”

He said he had previously paid his admission money, wouldn’t go voluntarily and challenged the police to“arrange back-up”.

He then shouted:“Come on then” while clenching his fists.

The fiscal added:“He stated he had a blade and reached into the rear of his trousers as if to remove a weapon.”

Further police officers were summoned to assist while he continued to call the stewards “f***ing idiots.”

Lamont had previously been made subject to a Community Payback Order after admitting shouting and swearing, acting in an aggressive manner and making violent threats at the King Street entrance to the Crieff Gathering on August 16, 2015.

But the order, imposed as an alternative to a jail term, had been breached on two occasions.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton agreed that her client had been “heavily intoxicated”and was being refused entry back into the park.

He had indicated he wouldn’t complete any further order and a Restriction of Liberty Order was described as“unsuitable.”

Sheriff Fiona Tait said the accused had a“bad record”and noted there were still 14 months of an unexpired portion of a previous jail term, imposed following a sheriff and jury assault case involving a knife in 2014.

He had only been freed from the 30-month sentence on July 31, 2015.

A Supervised Release Order had also been imposed.

Sheriff Tait revoked the Community Payback Order and instead jailed Lamont for 180 days.

She also added a consecutive 90 days behind bars to take account of part of the unexpired previous