Jail for assault

A LERWICK man has been jailed for six months after he pled guilty to repeatedly punching a man and then placing a cord around his neck, all to his injury.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard that James Douglas, of 116 Sandveien, suspected his partner had been unfaithful with his victim, who had been a friend.

When they returned to a house in Lerwick’s Stanegarth, the 29 year old repeatedly punched the man and then grabbed hold of a black cord and placed it around his neck.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that his victim avoided serious injury by getting his hands between the cord and his neck, though he suffered bruising to his eyes and nose.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said that his client had no intention of doing anything other than frighten the man.

Jailing him, Sheriff Philip Mann said placing a ligature around anyone’s neck was “an extremely dangerous thing to do, especially if you are in a heightened emotional state”.