News / Knocked man unconscious
THIRTY seconds of “madness” that left a man unconscious with a fractured cheekbone has left a Burra man carrying out 300 hours of unpaid work and placed under a curfew.
On Wednesday at Lerwick Sheriff Court Craig Ritchie, of 8 Glenburn Road, Hamnavoe, admitted punching a fellow pubgoer on the head, knocking him unconscious and repeatedly punching him to his severe injury and permanent impairment.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the victim received a “significant” fracture on his cheekbone that required surgery in Aberdeen.
He also lost a tooth and still experiences numbness as a result of nerve damage.
Defence agent Tommy Allan argued that the incident was not “prolonged” and that his client had been provoked.
He added that Ritchie had stopped assaulting the man after realising he was unconscious.
Allan said this his client admitted the incident had been the result of a half minute of madness.
But he added that there was little clarity about whether the injuries were sustained as the result of the punch or from the victim falling to the ground.
Sheriff Philip Mann ruled that the Ritchie “set the scene and set the ball rolling by confronting the complainer”.
The sheriff said he was “just persuaded” not to send the man to jail as a result of the uncertainty over when the injury occurred and the duration of the incident.
Instead he gave Ritchie 300 hours of unpaid work and placed him under curfew for four months, during which he is not allowed to leave his home between 7pm and 7am, seven days a week.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
