Man who brandished a hammer avoids jail

A MAN who brandished a hammer at a bus stop in Lerwick has been placed under supervision for two years and given a three-month curfew.

Lerwick Sheriff Court had previously heard that Adam Nelson, of 17 Undirhoul, Scalloway, took the hammer out of his pocket on King Harald Street on 5 February.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said in court on Wednesday that his client was remorseful for his actions and had recently enjoyed a “period of relatively good behaviour”.

He suggested that the 27 year old should be given a “chance” to prove himself under supervision.

Sheriff Philip Mann said the immediate “knee-jerk reaction would be to lock [Nelson] up”.

However, the sheriff suggested that Nelson could benefit from a community-based sentence involving social workers as he has regularly been denied the opportunity in the past.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Mann noted that Nelson had spent five weeks on remand related to the charge.

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“The matter is now squarely in your hands,” the sheriff said as he placed him under supervision with a curfew meaning he cannot leave his home between 7pm and 7am, seven days a week.

So that the court can “keep tabs” on Nelson, Sheriff Mann also requested that he face a review of the community payback order on 25 May.