News / Hill finally accepts the court’s jurisdiction
SHETLAND’s self-styled independence campaigner Stuart Hill had his community payback order reduced to 15 hours when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday after spending 12 days in jail.
Hill, of Ocraquoy, Cunningsburgh, was locked up on Friday 13 July having failed to come to court the previous day to explain why he had failed to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
The 69 year old had been convicted of a number of motoring offences last summer after he drove around Lerwick in what he described as the ‘consular’ vehicle for his island state of Forvik, without an MOT, road tax or insurance.
On Wednesday Hill entered the dock “under protest” and maintained his insistence that the court had no jurisdiction over him.
Defending himself, he said was however prepared to negotiate his sentence when Sheriff Philip Mann indicated he was willing to be lenient.
Hill had completed 42 hours of his 100 hour work order, when he stopped his community service.
He told the court it had been a genuine mistake when he failed to appear before the court on 12 June, a stance that was accepted by procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie.
He then said that he was “perfectly happy” to continue with the community payback order as soon as Lerwick Sheriff Court could prove its jurisdiction.
Sheriff Mann replied it was not for him to decide on such as matter as this had already been done by a higher court.
He then said that he was reluctant to send “an elderly fool to prison” and offered to accept Hill’s 12 days in custody as part payment for his community service, leaving a fine of £200 for him to pay.
He said he was aware that Hill had been remanded for a different reason – his non-appearance at court on 12 July – but was keen to find a solution “to the difficult position you have placed us all in”.
Hill then asked if he could do unpaid work instead, and when the sheriff offered 15 hours, Hill replied: “That would be fine,” suggesting he has finally accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
The sheriff thanked Hill for him co-operating and added: “I hope I don’t have to see you in these circumstances again”.
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