Court / Court round-up 23 March

A MAN from Lerwick who was found by police asleep in a parked van has been found guilty of being in charge of a vehicle while under the influence.

Peter Sallai, of Burgh Road, faced trial at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank concluded that he was not convinced the man would not have driven the vehicle when not permitted to do so.

The incident took place in the early hours of 26 November last year at Quoys Road.

The complaint stated that he was in charge of a van with 93 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

The court heard that Sallai was found by police hunched over the steering wheel of his works van, with the engine and headlights on and seatbelt strapped in.

It came after police were informed the 40-year-old was leaving the Marlex pub drunk and getting into a van.

Speaking whilst giving evidence, Sallai said he had been waiting in the van to gain entry to a house.

He said he turned on the heating to keep warm, and had some whisky while he waited.

Sallai told court that he would not have driven under the influence.

While not convinced about his overall intentions, Sheriff Cruickshank said he accepted Sallai would not have driven immediately after being found by police, and gave him ten penalty points and a £700 fine.

A MAN from Warwickshire has been fined and given a two-year non harassment order after behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards his former partner.

Mark Curran, 41, admitted the offence when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

He pleaded guilty to following the woman within her home on 29 December, shouting and swearing at her and behaving aggressively towards her whereby she sustained injury.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Curran became argumentative, causing the woman to go into another room.

She then wanted to leave the house, but “he responds by grabbing hold of her by the neck,” Mackenzie said. The police were then called.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client “accepts he had done wrong”, and added that Curran was now working in England.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Curran £540 and imposed a non-harassment order relating to the complainer for two years.