Probation for hockey stick attack
A SHETLAND father who assaulted a man and a woman with a hockey stick last year was ordered to carry out 140 hours community service yesterday (Wednesday).
Alan Devine, aged 46, of 15 Undirhoul, Scalloway, had been so drunk on 19 September that he could not remember the assault on Scalloway’s Main Street.
Sheriff Graeme Napier said the fact that Devine had re-armed himself with the hockey stick and attacked the man after someone had taken it off him and thrown it into the bushes made the offence all the more serious.
The sheriff also expressed alarm that Devine had told social workers that it was normal for him to drink 20 pints of beer and a dozen “shots” when he went out drinking. “For anyone to think that’s normal is just bizarre,” he said.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said that it was not normal for his client to drink that much, but that was how much had that night.
He added that Devine was “genuinely remorseful” about the assault. At the time he had been under stress at home and about his financial situation, however his life was now getting back on track.
Sheriff Graeme Napier told Devine he could have sent him to jail for five years, mainly because he re-armed himself before assaulting the man for the second time.
However he said that a jail sentence would also be a punishment for his wife, to whom he pays maintenance, and his children.
Instead he placed him on probation for 18 months, including 140 hours voluntary work. He will also be tagged for two months and must pay £750 compensation to his male victim, who was injured.
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