Here are six stories you may have missed from Lerwick Sheriff Court this week.
1. Man under supervision after leaving hotel room in “disgusting mess”
A man who has been told he could have only months to live if he drinks alcohol again has been placed under supervision after failing to pay for stays in a Lerwick hotel and leaving a room in a “disgusting mess”.
Philip Smith, of Brae, previously admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court to obtaining lodgings to the value of £62 at the Queen’s Hotel without paying on an occasion between 1 April and 30 April 2015 and also on 29 July this year.
The 52-year-old also pleaded guilty to damaging property belonging to another at the hotel on the July date by urinating and defecating on a bed.
The court previously heard from procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie that Smith left a room in such a mess that it cost around £500 to clean.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had been struggling to cope with a break-up and wrongly thought he had funds in his bank account to pay for his overnight stays.
Speaking at the court this week during sentencing, Allan said it was a “source of embarrassment” for Smith that he had “fallen so far”, but was hopeful he had hit “rock bottom” and things were now improving.
The solicitor said his client was under no illusion that his life expectancy will be significantly lowered if he drinks again, perhaps to as little as three months.
Sheriff James Scott placed Smith under supervision for 18 months.
2. Man caught driving without insurance twice
Driving without insurance on two occasions in the space of just over a week landed a man from Sandwick with a fine and penalty points when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court this week.
Anthony Grogan admitted driving a car without a valid policy at Gulberwick’s Lower Hillside on 13 October and Lerwick’s North Ness Business Park eight days later.
Defending himself, the 23-year-old shop assistant took the blame and said it was a “stupid thing to do”.
Sheriff James Scott fined Grogan £400 and also imposed a total of 12 penalty points, but his licence was not revoked.
3. Man got engaged to partner… Then assaulted her the next day
A man from Lerwick will learn his fate later this month after he admitted assaulting his partner the day after getting engaged to her at Christmas.
Marcin Olejniczak, of Hill Grind, pleaded guilty at Lerwick Sheriff Court this week to seizing his partner on her body at his address and punching her to her injury on 26 December.
On the same day, the 38-year-old assaulted another woman at the same address by pushing her on the body, causing her to strike her head against a doorframe and fall to the floor, and striking her with his hand to her injury.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said Olejniczak’s partner, who became his fiancée on Christmas Day, stood by him despite the assaults.
He added that his client had a background of alcohol problems, but progress had been made with his drinking.
Sheriff James Scott deferred sentence until 18 January for a social work inquiry report to be prepared.
4. Woman appears to target elderly woman when finding homes to rob
A woman who was found in a Lerwick home with an inferred intent to commit theft has been placed under supervision for 12 months.
Valeska Hunter, of the town’s Grostane, previously admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court to entering the house on October 17 without permission.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court this week that the 34-year-old had a history of similar offences and appeared to target elderly women.
Sheriff James Scott gave Hunter a community payback order with supervision and ordered her to undergo addiction and mental health treatment.
5. “Bravado” led Shetland teenager to make repeated nuisance 999 calls
A teenager from Sandwick who repeatedly made nuisance 999 calls has been given a nine-month supervision sentence.
Martin Sutherland previously admitted making the calls on various occasions between May 8 and 15 in Sandwick when there was no emergency and making false allegations to call handlers.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court this week, defence agent Tommy Allan said while there may have been an element of “bravado” in the 19 year old’s actions, he had the “fright of his life” attending court.
The solicitor suggested that underlying issues, such as mental health, are now being dealt with.
6. Man fined £600 for keeping uninsured cars with no MOT outside his home
A builder who kept unroadworthy cars outside his house in a Brae housing estate while they were uninsured and without MOTs has been fined.
James Griffiths, now of Bishopston, Bristol, will have to pay a total of £600 for the offences after appearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday.
The 60-year-old previously admitted having three cars at Ockragarth in Brae on May 23 with no test certificates or insurance.
Griffiths was also fined £200 and given six penalty points by honorary sheriff Malcolm Bell for driving one of the vehicles in the housing estate on the same day while it was uninsured.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 60 year old kept two “eyesore” vehicles outside his house, causing some annoyance among his neighbours.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client, who entered the dock from custody after failing to attend a previous court hearing, moved from Shetland to Bristol in 2015 and attempted to sell some of his vehicles after going south.
However, it was all a “bit of a shambles”, Allan admitted, with Griffiths in some instances failing to inform the DVLA about change of ownership.
