Court / Sheriff takes dim view of assault case

A THIRTY YEAR OLD man from Aberdeen narrowly escaped a jail sentence when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court to admit punching another man on the head and knocking out the crown of two of his teeth.

The court heard that Shaun Richmond, whose address was given as Grampian Prison, had no connection with the complainer – with “no need to get involved” in a dispute over money.

However, he punched the complainer once when he and two other men walked into a home in Scalloway on 9 March 2020.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said one of the other men had a grievance with the householder and their appearance at the address just after 10pm was not an “attempt of mediation or resolution”.

Richmond’s solicitor told the court his client had been drinking when he met a former co-accused, who explained that he had an issue with the complainer. The solicitor said that “stupidly and with some alcohol taken” his client agreed to join in and go along.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank told Richmond that he was taking a “dim view of somebody coming to Shetland, walking into somebody’s home and knocking their teeth out”.

Richmond escaped a jail sentence because he had already been in custody since 25 May.

Taking the time spent in custody, the sheriff fined Richmond £470 and ordered him to pay £600 in compensation.