Sheriff gives young man a chance

A TEENAGER narrowly escaped being remanded in custody awaiting trial in October when he appeared before Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday afternoon.

James Maloney, of 3B Burgadale, Brae, pleaded not guilty to a charge of breaking in to a house in the Grostane area of Lerwick on Friday evening, while on bail. As part of the same charge, Maloney is alleged to have acted with a juvenile.

Procurator fiscal Kathryn Gordon argued that Maloney should be kept in custody since he had previous convictions and had shown a “blatant disregard for court orders”.

But defence solicitor Linda Knarston said her client was on bail for a case that had not yet been determined and the court should not imprison a potentially innocent man.

She said the council’s social services had been able to get Maloney a place on a 17 day course run by the Venture Trust outside Inverness later this month, which could help her client to turn his life around.

She urged the sheriff to “give this young man a chance”.

Honorary sheriff Roger MacDonald granted bail but placed Maloney on a curfew between 7pm and 7am every night and told him that he must open the door to any police officer checking if he was at home.

Trial date was set for the 21 October 2010.