Court / Man appears in court to admit nine charges
A MAN has appeared in Lerwick Sheriff Court to admit a number of charges including assaulting three teenage children at a bus stop in town.
Alexander Chalmers, of Gott, also pleaded guilty to throwing a bag of glass bottles at a bus driver.
The incidents happened on 10 December at the Esplanade bus stop at around 5pm.
The 32-year-old’s case has been adjourned for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report.
Chalmers admitted nine charges in total, which also included struggling violently with police officers and shouting and swearing in hospital.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the three child complainers were waiting at the bus stop.
They were approached by Chalmers, who was “clearly intoxicated by some substance” and was shouting and swearing at them.
He admitted seizing hold of a 13-year-old’s face, seizing hold of a 15-year-old’s body and striking another 15-year-old on the face, struggling with him and punching him on the body to his injury.
Chalmers also admitted bending and damaging the legs of a boy’s pair of glasses.
The court head that Chalmers, who had a bag of bottles with him, then got onto the bus to Sumburgh, despite wanting to go west.
With passengers concerned, the driver asked him to leave the bus but had to physically remove him.
As the driver was walking back he was told by someone to “look out” as Chalmers threw the bag of bottles at him. It missed and the glass smashed on the kerb, the court heard.
The police were called, but Chalmers then tried to board the Hillswick bus, was ordered to leave, and then got on the bus to Walls – which he was also told to get off.
“The accused then got off the bus and was staggering across the road in front of traffic,” Mackenzie said.
When police officers arrived Chalmers tried to run away but was ultimately apprehended.
After vomiting he was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital, where the behaviour continued – and got worse, the court heard.
Chalmers took no heed of warnings that there were children nearby receiving treatment, as well as other patients.
“That behaviour ensued for nearly four hours,” Mackenzie said, with Chalmers later returned to the town’s police station.
The case was adjourned for reports until 12 July when Chalmers’ defence will give mitigation.
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