Court / Jail sentence for breach of bail conditions

A THIRTY three year old man with a track record for breaching bail conditions has been sentenced to four months in prison.

Adam Nelson, of Leaside, Mossbank, appeared from custody via video link at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday morning after admitting failing to comply with a special condition that he was not to approach or contact his brother.

The court heard Nelson was with his sibling at the Lerwick Job Centre in Charlotte House and at the town’s King Harald Street on 18 February this year.

This was in breach of a condition when he was admitted to bail in December 2020, and he also committed the offence while on bail granted by the same court 24 hours earlier.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Nelson had attended the job centre with his brother at around midday. He appeared to be under the influence and was asked to leave and come back later.

When he returned alone, he threatened to kill himself if he was unable to receive his benefits. When spoken to by police at around 5pm he said that no court would prevent him from seeing his brother, the fiscal added.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had been in custody for several weeks prior to the date in question. His benefits were being paid into his brother’s bank account and he was attempting to sort that out.

Allan added that Nelson wished to say sorry to staff at the job centre for any upset he had caused.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said that contrary to the “bravado” of Nelson’s claim, the court would indeed prevent him from seeing his brother, noting that he had a lengthy track record of offences and aggravations committed whilst on bail.

His sentence was reduced from six months to four to reflect his guilty plea and backdated to 21 February, when he was taken into custody.