News / Woman gave fake identity
A WOMAN from Lerwick who faked her identity in a bid to dodge police prosecution has been given 240 hours of unpaid work.
Jaden Paterson, of Nordavatn, Lerwick, previously admitted giving false information to police at an address in the town’s Lovers Loan on 23 December 2014 in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie previously told Lerwick Sheriff Court that the 29 year old was spoken to by police when they were executing a search warrant at the property.
Around 40 minutes after officers first entered the building, Paterson was asked to state her details, but she gave the name Sarah Donnelly and a fake date of birth.
Court proceedings on a drugs complaint were called against Sarah Donnelly, but no one appeared. Paterson insisted the person actually existed, despite the crown’s scepticism.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said that while his client has no recollection of the incident due to alcohol, she accepts she gave the wrong information.
The 29 year old “wasn’t thinking clear” at that time of her life, Allan said, adding that it wasn’t a “deliberate” attempt to land someone else in trouble.
A social work report prepared after Paterson’s initial plea said she has made “significant changes” in her life, the solicitor said.
“This is a young woman who has done a stupid thing,” Allan concluded.
Sheriff Philip Mann however said that not only was Paterson “trying to save her own skin”, but her actions had the potential to cause “great distress and inconvenience” for the other woman.
He placed Paterson under a community payback order that requires her to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
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