News / Too drunk to recall PC assault
A YOUNG man from Whalsay was fined £500 and ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work after he pled guilty to assaulting a police constable in a Lerwick pub on 26 April this year.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Thursday how David Leeman punched the officer and then struggled with him, resulting in them both falling down a flight of stairs.
The 25 year old, of Wilander, Brough, then held his victim in a headlock, and punched him on his head before the officer was able to free himself.
A spray had to be used on him before officers could detain him.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court the incident happened when police visited Captain Flints, at the town’s Market Cross, as part of their routine checks on licensed premises.
He said the accused was “particularly boisterous at the time”.
The assault took place when Leeman walked past the officer who had just advised bar staff not to serve any more alcohol to him.
In mitigation, defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client’s behavior was “genuinely out of character”.
Due to his drunken state, Leeman had no recollection of the incident, but accepted that at one point he had placed the police officer in a headlock.
Sheriff Philip Mann told Leeman that he could easily have been sent to jail for an assault on a police officer.
And he warned him that being drunk was perhaps an explanation, but not an excuse for such behavior.
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