Here are three stories from Lerwick Sheriff Court that you may have missed this week.
1) Island man told ‘jail sentence likely’ after being caught with £3,500 of heroin
A man from Lerwick who was found in possession of heroin worth an estimated £3,500 has had his sentence deferred until May.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday that Kevin Goodlad, of the town’s North Lochside, was someone who transported the class A drug around the town for other people to then break down before selling.
The 43 year old admitted being concerned in the supply of the drug at two locations in Lerwick and elsewhere on 21 June.
Mackenzie said police searched him after receiving intelligence about his involvement in drugs.
They found 32 grams of heroin, which could have fetched £3,200 if broken down into its smallest sellable amounts.
Sheriff Philip Mann said it was a “very serious offence” and warned that a custodial sentence was “most likely”.
He adjourned the case for criminal justice social work reports until 24 May, with Goodlad’s bail continued.
2) Two men assaulted victim before dragging him out of a house
Two men who admitted injuring another man by assaulting him before dragging him out of a house will learn their fate in May.
Twenty year old Nathan Robertson, of Culswick, and Richard Bradley, 58, of Lerwick’s Staney Hill, pleaded guilty at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday repeatedly punching and kicking the man on the body while acting together at an address in the town’s Ladies Drive on 20 July.
They also repeatedly struck him on the head with a metal knife-sharpening tool, causing him to fall to the ground, and seized him by the body and dragged him from the property to the pavement outside, all to his injury.
Sheriff Philip Mann deferred sentence until 24 May for social work reports to be prepared and warned the pair that custody is “very much in prospect”.
3) Island man repeatedly struck victim on the head
A 28-year-old man from Lerwick will be sentenced on May 24 after he admitted repeatedly striking a man on the head to his injury last year.
Ross Sutherland, of Hoofields, pleaded guilty at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday to assaulting the man, who is now deceased, at an address on the town’s St Magnus Street on 23 June.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly encouraged criminal justice social work reports to be prepared to reveal more about the case’s background, with Sheriff Philip Mann agreeing to defer sentence.
4) Two to be sentenced after admitting supplying cannabis
Donnie Hutchison and Stephanie Adamson will be sentenced on May 24 after admitting being concerned in the supply of cannabis and cannabis resin.
Twenty five year old Hutchison, of Turnibrae, Dunrossness, and 22 year old Adamson, of Lerwick’s Grostane, admitted committing the offence at an address in Dunrossness on December 3 when they appeared in court on Tuesday.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the value of the drugs was not yet known.
Sheriff Philip Mann said the charge was “serious” and would merit all options being considered.
5) Man stalked his own mother and sister
A man who stalked his own mother and sister has been placed under supervision and given a non-harassment order.
Ryan Galbraith, of Lerwick’s Sandveien, previously admitted causing fear or alarm to them between 1 January 1 and October 22 last year at various locations in the town and Scalloway.
The 24-year-old persistently attempted to contact them by phone, as well as sending text messages and leaving voicemails of a threatening nature.
On one occasion, he approached his mother at the Co-operative supermarket in Lerwick, shouted and swore at her and spat on her car.
On another occasion he approached her vehicle in the car park of the Tesco supermarket and pushed a shopping trolley towards it before attempting to strike the car with the trolley.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said there was “clearly a troubled relationship” between the three parties and any contact between them “invariably leads to acrimony”.
He suggested Galbraith should be placed under an 18-month non-harassment order prohibiting contact with the complainers as his actions had a “significant impact” on them.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client had a “difficult upbringing” which had been exacerbated by his drug misuse.
He said Galbraith, who wants to be completely drug-free and in employment, had been making good progress and was receiving support.
Sheriff Philip Mann said that the behaviour was “wholly out of order” and had caused a “great deal of distress”.
While he acknowledged there may have been underlying issues relating to his upbringing, the sheriff warned Galbraith that he has to act in an “adult fashion”.
In addition to the supervision and the non-harassment order, both of which will run for 18 months, Galbraith was ordered to continue to engage with substance misuse staff and the council’s care team.
The sheriff added that Galbraith’s family could ask for the non-harassment order to be reviewed if they wanted to “repair” their relationship.
6) Island man thought another was spreading rumours about him… So he spat in his face
A man from Lerwick who spat in the face of another man who he thought had been spreading rumours about him has been given 50 hours of unpaid work to complete.
Kyle Swannie, of Pitt Lane, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday to committing the offence at the town’s Ladies Drive on 30 May.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 20 year old verbally challenged the complainer before spitting at him.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client now accepted the act was “vile”.
He said Swannie saw red mist descend because he thought the complainer had been spreading rumours about him taking drugs.
The solicitor added that his client had not been in trouble with the law since the offence.
Sheriff Philip Mann said that while Swannie should be “ashamed” of himself, he was encouraged by his recent progress.
