Knocked man unconscious

TWO young Shetland men have been placed under supervision and ordered to pay compensation after pleading guilty to knocking a man unconscious to the ground in Lerwick’s Commercial Street and continuing to punch him.

Twenty-year-old Geordan Sales, of 18 Kalliness, Weisdale, and 17-year-old Thomas Drever, of 27 Cheyne Crescent, Lerwick both avoided custodial sentences after injuring a man on 14 September.

Sheriff Philip Mann admitted that he “could be criticised” for allowing the pair to avoid a jail term.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that it was an “unusual case in that it was a wholly unprovoked attack”.

Sales and Drever approached a man outside a fast food outlet in Lerwick after a night out before knocking him to the ground unconscious.

The incident only came to an end after the victim’s friend and passers-by intervened.

Both Sales and Drever were placed under 18 months of supervision and told to pay the victim £600 compensation each.

Sales was given 100 hours of unpaid work whilst Drever received 60 hours.