Broken nose

A CONSTRUCTION worker from Middlesborough was fined £600 at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday after he repeatedly punched a work colleague on the head and broke his nose last year.

Stewart Ryan, of 8 Price Avenue, had previously admitted assaulting the man on Scalloway’s Main Street and at the nearby harbour on 12 November.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court the 53 year old and his victim had fallen out over a grievance procedure at work at Sullom Voe.

They were out with respective friends when the complainer met Ryan and bought him a drink in an “attempt to improve relations”.

However on their way back to the accommodation barge where they lived, Ryan punched the man.

The complainer walked away only to be punched again and butted in the head before security staff from the barge intervened.

The victim was left with a broken nose, though he did not require formal medical intervention.

The fiscal said that at one point Ryan had thrown himself to the ground “without anyone touching him”.

Defence agent Tommy Allan explained that his client had injured his knee in the incident and was now on sickness benefit as a result.

He added that Ryan “had a lot on his mind” that day after learning that his mother-in-law was very ill.

Fining him, Sheriff Philip Mann told Ryan £600 he was sure there were two sides to this “completely out of order” conduct, but it sounded as if Ryan was the aggressor.