Court / Court round-up 1 November 2023
A WOMAN has been warned that she might have to pay out compensation after admitting spitting on people at a Lerwick pub and struggling violently with a member of staff as she was being ejected.
Ashleigh Charlton, of the town’s Leslie Road, had her sentenced deferred for six months to be a good behaviour when she appeared at court on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old admitted spitting in a man’s face at the Douglas Arms on 26 February, as well as shouting, screaming and spitting on patrons.
Charlton also pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman by struggling violently with her and repeatedly kicking her on the leg, all to her injury.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Charlton had been drinking and was “having a go” at other patrons in the pub before being ejected.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had overheard a comment which she thought related to her.
He said she has not drunk alcohol since and had been seeking support – suggesting that it could be a “catalyst” for positive change.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank described in the incident as “unpleasant” and deferred the matter until 30 March – before advising Charlton to think about saving up some money for possible compensation payments when the case next calls.
TWO hundred hours of unpaid work was given to a man from Aith when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
Jason Pottinger, of Marthastoon, had previously admitted possessing cocaine at Lerwick Police Station on 30 July, and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner outside his home address a couple of days later.
Defence agent Tommy Allan conceded the 36-year-old had an “atrocious record”, but he said Pottinger had accepted responsibility for his latest offences and was interested in a local restorative justice scheme.
In addition to the unpaid work Sheriff Ian Cruickshank also imposed 15 months of supervision.
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A MAN who arrived off the NorthLink ferry with heroin concealed in his body has been fined £400.
David Macdonald, 36, of Scalloway’s Meadowfield Crescent, admitted possessing the class A drug at the ferry terminal on Lerwick’s Holmsgarth Road on 2 June.
Procurator fiscal told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that the weight of drugs recovered was 7.7 grams, which could have a maximum value of £515.
A MAN who entered a house uninvited and shouted, swore and behaved aggressively towards the occupants has been fined £400.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard that Krzysztof Gliwa entered the Lerwick house on 25 October after learning that his ex had found a new partner.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said the 41-year-old, of Lerwick’s North Road, understands that he should not have acted in the way he did.
A SEVENTEEN year old driver has been banned from the road for 12 months after admitting taking to the wheel more than twice the alcohol limit.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, drove on the road between Whiteness and Weisdale on 22 September with 51 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 22.
He also admitted driving with no insurance.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank disqualified the driver for 12 months and issued a £500 fine. The ban can be reduced by one quarter if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course.
AN UNPAID work order was revoked with a £750 fine instead imposed in its place when Matthew Brown’s case called at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, of East Kilbride, was previously given a community payback order for an assault and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner last year.
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