News / Told to be of good behaviour
A THIRTY one year old man who behaved aggressively towards his partner and then struggled with police in Lerwick town centre in the early hours of Sunday has been given six months to be of good behaviour.
Darrell Richards, of Newport, Brae, appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday to plead guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
He admitted acting aggressively, gesticulating towards his partner, shouting abuse and swearing.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police officers spotted Richards behaving aggressively, but when they twice approached the couple, she told them no assistance was required.
Richards continued arguing with the woman and they went down an alleyway. Officers were concerned that he might assault her and decided to arrest him.
The fiscal said Richards did not take kindly to being arrested and “there was quite a significant struggle before he was subdued”.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client, who works as a plant operator, had been in the relationship for four years.
Prior to the incident the couple had drunk “stupid amounts” of alcoholic cocktails and missed their bus back to Brae.
He said Richards was not proud of how he had acted, but remained committed to the relationship.
Sheriff Philip Mann said: “Drink probably explains what happened, but it doesn’t excuse it.”
He deferred sentence for six months and told Richards that he “really can’t go round acting like this” in private, let alone in public.
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