News / Serial offender escapes jail
A YOUNG Shetland serial offender narrowly escaped a lengthy jail sentence after convincing sheriff Graeme Napier that a stint of four weeks in custody had been a wake-up call for him.
Appearing for sentencing from custody before Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday morning Shaun Laurence Smith, of 12 Ladies Drive, Lerwick, was put under supervision for 12 months and ordered to carry out 230 hours of unpaid work.
He was also tagged for three months, disqualified from owning a dog for five years and fined £200.
The 17-year old had previously pled guilty to charges of threatening to set his dog on an employee at the Bike Project Shop on 19 March, and being the owner of a Pitt Bull Terrier that was out of control at a Lerwick address on 10 July injuring a man and another dog.
Smith also pled guilty to breaching a dog control notice when he failed to have his dog muzzled or kept on a lead at another address in Lerwick, and breaching the peace when he unclipped his dog and ordered it to “sick” another man, both on the 28 July.
He further pled guilty to pushing his former girlfriend down a flight of stairs at his home address on 18 September, breaching a restriction of liberty order imposed on him by Edinburgh High Court, and sending from within Lerwick police station threatening and grossly offensive test messages to two others, on 7 October.
All offences were committed while on bail.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said that his client had generally been frightened by his experience in jail and had realised that he was more vulnerable than he previously had thought he was.
It also emerged that Smith had written to sheriff Graeme Napier while in custody, promising not to appear before the court ever again.
The sheriff said he would give him a chance as he appeared to have realised that his behaviour had an impact on other people’s lives and said he was prepared to give him the chance to serve his sentence in the community.
But he warned him: “If you don’t accept these proposals than you know where you are going.”
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