Court / Rigger remanded in custody after ‘shameful and shocking’ incident
A TWENTY year old man has been remanded in custody after a “shameful and shocking” incident which saw him attack and verbally abuse police for several hours.
Charlie Forsyth, from South Shields, had to be pepper sprayed during the sustained episode on 27 August last year, which occurred on Lerwick’s Commercial Street, the Gilbert Bain Hospital and Lerwick police station.
He had previously admitted the lengthy charges, which also saw him spit and kick on the inside of a police van, kick a police officer on the leg and threaten to rape another officer’s family members.
Forsyth appeared from custody via video-link at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, after a warrant to apprehend him was made last week.
His sentence had previously been deferred for the preparation of background reports, which had not been presented to the court.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said there had been a mix-up with Forsyth’s address, which had led to him not being notified of court appearances.
He said Forsyth had handed himself in to police on Monday and had been held in custody since.
Despite already hearing a narration of the incident in October, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank asked to hear it again with Forsyth now in attendance.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police were called to the Esplanade at around 7.10pm to two males fighting, and discovered Forsyth at the scene.
He became “extremely aggressive” and began shouting and swearing at them, before making a motion with his head as if to butt one of the officers in the face.
Forsyth was then arrested, but “began feigning illness” in the van.
When an officer opened the door to check on him, he made a run for it – but was again caught.
He kicked and spat on the inside of the police van on the way back to the Lerwick station.
But when they arrived Forsyth again began complaining of feeling dizzy and ill, so was taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
Two police officers were “most unfortunate in having to spend a fair bit of time with him there”, Mackenzie said.
His abusive behaviour towards police and hospital staff continued, including raising his body off the bed and trying to kick out at the officers.
He did succeed in kicking one on the leg, the court heard, which lead to him being pepper sprayed.
Another two officers were called to assist and on their arrival, his behaviour went further downhill – so much so that he had to be restrained to the bed.
After “15 minutes of calm” he was told by hospital staff he was clear to go, at which point he refused to leave.
All four police officers had to carry him out while he shouted and swore, including making “homophobic” remarks to female officers.
Young children were present during this outburst, Mackenzie said.
And when they returned to the police station Forsyth’s behaviour continued still, with him flushing an anti-harm suit down the toilet to try flood the cell.
He also threatened to rape an officer’s wife and daughter.
Forsyth was seen to smirk during the narration, and Mackenzie said he “seems to be finding this amusing”.
Allan asked for Forsyth to be released on bail, saying that while these were “serious offences” his time in custody had reinforced the seriousness of co-operating with the courts.
He also said Forsyth, who the court heard previously was a rigger working in Africa, had put a lucrative contract on hold in order to clear up this matter.
Sheriff Cruickshank said he still wanted to read a criminal justice social work report before deciding what to do with Forsyth.
But he declined to release him on bail, saying he was “not persuaded you are necessarily going to co-operate”.
He called the incident “really quite shameful and shocking” and remanded him in custody.
Forsyth will return to court for sentencing on 12 February.
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