News / Man remanded in custody
A MAN from Dumfries who drunkenly challenged two 13-year-old boys to a fight in Lerwick before later assaulting one of them has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.
Dayne Earl, of Stark Crescent, appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday to admit two offences which took place on the town’s South Road on 20 July.
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to conducting himself in a disorderly manner and shouting, as well as approaching four people individually and in an aggressive manner, challenging them to a fight and committing a breach of peace.
Earl also admitted assaulting one of the complainers, who was aged 13, and seizing him by the clothes, pushing him against a wall, following him, repeatedly taking hold of him and pulling him, all at Sound Service Station.
He also physically compelled the boy to go to Tesco, punched him on the body, placed him a headlock, attempted to trip him up and kicked him on the leg. The offences were carried out while Earl was on bail.
Procurator fiscal Keith Adam said Earl approached two 13-year-old boys at around 9.30pm and told them he wished to fight them.
When they declined his offer, the man then approached one of them more closely, with the complainer smelling alcohol from his breath.
Adam said that Earl then took one of the boys by the collar and pushed him against a wall before following one of them along the road towards town.
The court heard that Earl told the boy to go to the Tesco supermarket with him before putting him in a headlock and dragging him towards the store, with the boy getting himself free.
Adam said that at around 9.45pm two other complainers were standing near to the recycling bins at Tesco when Earl shouted at them and said he could take them on in a fight.
Tesco management contacted the police, with officers arresting him soon after.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had only been in Shetland for eight days on a work trial as a roofer.
He had learned of a family bereavement that day before taking to the bottle as he failed to cope with the news, with the 22-year-old struggling to remember the incidents.
Allan said Earl was “shocked” to learn about his behaviour.
Honorary sheriff Willie Shannon deferred sentence until 1 August and remanded Earl in custody in the meantime due to his record for committing offences while on bail.
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