News / Man stole from Nepal earthquake appeal box
A MAN who has admitted stealing charity box money from a Lerwick restaurant and threatening police officers has been kept behind bars while reports are prepared.
John Gibson, of 44A Bruce Crescent, Lerwick, appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to a string of charges that took place between July and September this year.
The 38 year old admitted shouting, swearing and behaving aggressively towards two police officers – aggravated by religious prejudice – at his home address and while being taken to Lerwick Police Station on 19 July.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police attended the house after being alerted by both Gibson and his partner over a “domestic incident”.
However, his behaviour towards the police became “thoroughly disgusting”, with the man later calling one officer a “Fenian bastard”.
Gibson also admitted taking a box containing charity donations for the Nepal earthquake appeal from the Gurkha Kitchen at Lerwick’s North Road on 21 September while on bail.
He plead guilty to resisting, obstructing and hindering two police officers, threatening to fight with them and resisting lawful detention at the restaurant, also committed while on bail.
Gibson also admitted breaching bail conditions on 22 September that were set just hours earlier by not being in his property between 7pm and 7am.
Defence agent Craig Dewar told court that his client had broken a “cycle of offending” a few years ago and had previously shown progress by gaining employment and getting “stable” on a methadone prescription.
However, he said things began to unravel when, on a recent anniversary of his mother’s death, Gibson appeared to overdose – which in turn “set off a chain of events” and sparked a “downward spiral”.
Dewar argued that Gibson’s time spent in custody for the charges – nearly 40 days – should be taken into consideration when sentencing.
Sheriff Philip Mann decided to adjourn the case until 25 November for a criminal justice social work report to be prepared and remanded Gibson in custody.
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