Fined and ordered to pay compensation

A THIRTY three year old man has avoided jail but found himself nearly £4,000 worse off after admitting to assaulting his former girlfriend in Brae last January.

Andrew Smith, of 49 Treefields, Buckingham, had gone on trial before a jury at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday facing a catalogue of domestic abuse charges.

But on Tuesday morning the trial was called off when he pleaded guilty to an amended charge.

He admitted assaulting the woman at the Brae Hotel on 20 January 2014 by seizing her by the hair, dragging her across the room until she struck her head, rendering her unconscious and dragging her by the hair – all to her injury.

Smith was fined £2,500 for the assault and was ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation.

He had previously admitted to assaulting another man, Sydney Johnson, at Brae Hotel on the same date last year. He was fined £300 for that assault.

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The crown accepted his not guilty pleas to other charges including other assaults and sending “grossly offensive” text messages.

Smith was given three months to pay the £3,800 as an alternative to a custodial sentence.

Meanwhile, a 22 year old man has appeared from custody charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing at Lerwick’s Ladies Drive on Monday.

Chae Coleman, of 21 Ladies Drive, Lerwick, is also accused of possessing a metal pole and a kitchen knife in a public place.

Coleman’s case was continued without plea until 28 October and he was granted bail.