Sex offender spared custody

A SHETLAND teenager who missed two social work appointments and was late registering as a sex offender was spared custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court, on Wednesday.

Brydon Robertson had previously pled guilty to sexually assaulting a policewoman by grabbing her backside and making abusive and lewd comments, on 16 July, when she and a male colleague went to his house at of 2 Nordavatn, Lerwick.

Last month the court deferred sentence for reports and told the 18 year old he had to register as a sex offender at Lerwick police station, which he admitted failing to do.

Sheriff Graeme Napier was told that Robertson had suffered from food poisoning, flu, and problems with his mobile phone which had prevented him from communicating with social work.

He had forgotten another social work appointment after securing a job at a local fish factory.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said he had told his client how serious his offending was, but Sheriff Napier told Robertson that it was time that he faced up to his responsibilities.

The sheriff said he would be perfectly entitled to lock him up until his next court appearance on 19 October to ensure that the required social report can be written.