Man fined for going into teacher’s home

AN UNEMPLOYED Manchester man was fined £360 for a breach of the peace when he appeared last week at Fort William Sheriff Court.

Ryan Wheeler had been in Fort William on August 12 last year with the aim of climbing Ben Nevis with a group of friends the following day.

But Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald heard how, after becoming drunk at a party at a house in the town, Wheeler had no idea where he was and thought he would return to the house where the party had been.

However, the court heard Wheeler mistook another house for the home of the party’s hosts and disturbed a sleeping schoolteacher.

‘She was awaken by a noise and saw the accused standing at the top of the stairs.

‘She asked him what he was doing and he replied, obviously under the influence of a lot of alcohol, that he was looking for his friends,’ Procurator Fiscal Robert Weir told the court.

‘He then walked down the stairs and left. It seems the door of the house had not been locked.’

The teacher had watched Wheeler climb into an unsecured Vauxhall Corsa parked outside in the street and when its interior light came on she alerted the police.

‘Police officers detained the accused and found he was under the influence of alcohol,’ added Mr Weir.

Defence agent Stephen Kennedy said his client was a 24-year-old man who lived with his parents in Manchester.

Mr Kennedy said after going out with his friends in Fort William, he had met some local people who had invited him to the party in question.

Later on in the evening Wheeler had found himself outside the house, with no shoes and in an intoxicated and disorientated state.

‘So he decided to go back to the house where the party had been but unfortunately went to the wrong house,’ said Mr Kennedy.

‘A teacher lives there and after hearing a noise saw Wheeler coming out of her bathroom.

‘After asking him what he was doing – although using slightly stronger language than that – she managed to persuade him he was in the wrong house.

‘She had forgotten to lock the door that night and it should be said Mr Wheeler did leave the house when asked.’

Mr Kennedy said Wheeler had got into the car with the aim of sleeping there until he sobered up.

‘He is extremely embarrassed by his behaviour and he apologises for any upset caused and asked the victim to forgive him for his stupid behaviour,’ he told the court.

Fining Wheeler £360, Sheriff MacDonald told him it had been stupid behaviour, adding: This would have been very alarming for the lady in the house.’