News / Man denies biting police
A PIPEFITTER who stands accused of spitting at, biting and struggling violently with police officers in Lerwick on Saturday has been remanded in custody.
Paul Bonnar, 35, of Park Road, Dunoon, denied the string of assault charges when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon.
He appeared from custody accused of assaulting one police constable in the execution of his duty by attempting to strike him on the head with his elbow and bite him on the arm.
Bonnar is also charged with assaulting another officer and biting him on the leg and arm; spitting at three officers, and resisting, obstructing and hindering four officers by struggling violently with them.
In addition Bonnar, who has just finished a pipefitting job in Shetland and is due to start another job in Nigg next week, is accused of taking and driving a vehicle at Hogalee, Scalloway on Saturday without the owner’s consent, insurance or a valid driving licence.
Sheriff Philip Mann refused the defendant’s application for bail, meaning he will remain in prison until he goes on trial on 11 June.
Meanwhile, a 22 year old man who drank too much and “effectively spoiled the evening for everyone” has been ordered to stay away from his wife for the next month.
Paul Lewis, of Stucca, Hillswick, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, brandishing a knife and smashing a glazed internal door at the same addrss on Saturday.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the couple had been on a night out together, but he had drunk much too heavily. When they returned home he began shouting, swearing and making “derogatory” comments about his wife. He brandished the knife and asked her to kill him.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client was sorry for his behaviour, and had been to see a GP about his problem with depression.
Sheriff Mann deferred sentence until 10 June for a criminal justice social enquiry report, and granted Lewis bail.
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