Court / Man ‘running out of road’ after court appearance from custody
A MAN has been warned that he is “running out of road” after being taken into custody on a warrant for missing a previous court appearance.
Thomas Drever was released on bail when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court from custody on Monday, and had his various matters deferred to next month.
This includes a deferred sentence for an offence which took place on 27 October 2024 in Lerwick.
Drever, who is of no fixed abode, previously admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on the town’s Kantersted Road, within a police van and at Lerwick Police Station.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said police approached Drever on that day at around 1.50am on a separate apprehension warrant.
The court heard that Drever ignored shouts from police officers and continued walking, before the 27-year-old was arrested.
Mackenzie said Drever shouted and swore at officers, some of which was aggravated by prejudice related to disability.
He also braced his legs to prevent being placed within a police vehicle, and repeatedly butted and kicked the interior of the van, as well as spat.
Mackenzie said Drever’s behaviour, which lasted for a few hours, continued into the police station – where officers had to strap his legs – and the cell.
Drever had also previously pleaded guilty to a cocaine possession charge.
A new warrant for apprehension had gone out after Drever missed a recent court date, leading to his trip to custody.
Speaking in court on Monday, defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had simply forgotten about the court date.
He also said correspondence had gone to an address which he no longer had access to.
However, Allan noted how Drever did turn up when a criminal justice social work report was being prepared.
“Clearly he should have been at court,” the solicitor said. “He wasn’t. But he has been in custody, he’s been arrested for that.”
Another matter was that Drever had an uncompleted unpaid work order, in which Allan said there was now a “relatively low” number of hours left, while there were also a couple of bail breaches involved too.
Honorary Sheriff Willie Shannon decided to defer all matters to 14 May and release Drever on custody, with the 27-year-old receiving an extension to the unpaid work requirement to that date.
He said he did not feel Drever was a “lost cause” but warned him that he is “running out of road” – and reminded the accused to take note of when his next court appearance is scheduled for.
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