News / Crimes are drink-related
SENTENCE has been deferred on a man whose appearances in Lerwick Sheriff Court have become “depressingly regular occurrence” as a result of his drinking.
Thirty two year old Owen Haughian admitted assaulting two men and a woman at Herrislea Court in Tingwall on 17 January this year.
He also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in a police vehicle on the way to Lerwick Police Station by screaming, shouting, swearing, repeatedly banging his head on the vehicle’s rear window and referring to a white police officer as a “Paki”.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that – “as is usual when he consumes alcohol” – Haughian had become aggressive at the house in Tingwall.
Others present eventually got him out of the house, resulting in him lying down in the middle of the road.
When the woman tended to him, he assaulted her by punching her on the head, seizing hold of her by the arm and dragging her. He also assaulted the two men, one by pushing him and the other by striking his body.
The fiscal said Haughian referred to one police officer, who did not have an ethnic background, as a “Paki” because he thought it was an insult. He also claimed to be a relative of the local MSP in the hope that it would make things okay.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client was also worried about the effects of drinking. He should have left the house party when he was asked to, while his behaviour towards the police was “just ridiculous”.
Haughian has sought help from the Community Alcohol and Drugs Services (CADS), Allan continued.
“He accepts the public cannot tolerate this. When he drinks it seems to turn him into a different person.”
Calling for a criminal justice social inquiry report, Sheriff Philip Mann said he was “depressed about this”, describing Haughian’s behaviour as “just not fathomable”. Sentence was deferred until 18 March.
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