Moray man (21) jailed for drug dealing and controlling behaviour
A 21-year-old man has been jailed for a string of offences involving drugs, controlling behaviour and continually ignoring court orders.
Grant Rowand appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court via a video link from Inverness Prison. The first series of charges against him stemmed from February 5 last year, when he went to Elgin Police Station to report a crime in which his phone had been stolen at knifepoint.
A backpack belonging to Rowand was later found nearby which contained £858 in cash. Also inside was cannabis with a street value of £1240, a small amount of magic mushrooms, plus 53 ecstacy tablets worth between £265 and £500.
Rowand initially claimed the contents were only for personal use, adding that he smoked a quarter ounce of cannabis a day.
Another offence, this time on April 17, saw him threaten two men with violence at an address in Forres.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching his bail conditions on May 23. The court heard that the police had spotted Rowand in Forres behind the wheel of an uninsured car.
Further enquiries revealed he was barred from being in the company of the woman who was in the vehicle with him.
Rowand breached his bail conditions again on July 3 by going to an address in Forres, where the police discovered him hiding upstairs.
A further series of offences occurred on December 9 at an address in Elgin.
The court heard he’d drunkenly punched a witness who’d been trying to “de-escalate a situation”, then attempted to punch and headbutt a second man.
The final charges related to Rowand’s behaviour towards his ex-partner between May 2022 and January 2025.
On one occasion he contacted the woman’s former husband on WhatsApp and pretended to be her.
On another he downloaded an app onto her phone so he could track her movements.
The court also heard he tried to prevent her from wearing make-up and had attempted to make her to quit her job.
Rowand, who was visibly upset as he listened to the proceedings, admitted all the charges.
His solicitor Matthew O’Neill said: “Before he began coming before the court he was a well-balanced and pleasant young man. He never envisioned his life turning out this way.”
Speaking directly to the defendant, Sheriff Gary Aitken said: “Unlike many of those who appear in this court you have a supportive family and have had every opportunity. But you seem intent in throwing it all away.
“Your catalogue of behaviour and your previous convictions are, for someone so young, really significant.
“There’s been lots of talk about how you can turn things around, about how you can make progress. But it’s all just talk.
“Some of your behaviour, particularly in relation to your former partner, was nothing short of reprehensible.
“In the past you have had curfews, fines and community punishments orders. All of these other options have run out today.”
Sheriff Aitken imposed a 15-month prison sentence, backdated to January.
The court heard that Rowand’s ex-partner had declined asking for a non-harassment order to be put in place.
Mr O’Neill said his client had been surprised by this. The lawyer added: “He himself admits it was not a positive relationship.”
In addition to the jail term Sheriff Aitken also decided to impose a five-year non-harassment order, stating his belief that it was in the public interest.
