Remanded after making nuisance phone calls

A SERIAL offender who pleaded guilty to making 28 nuisance phone calls to the police has been remanded in custody after appearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday.

Nathan Hilditch, 22, of Ulsta, Yell, admitted three charges committed while he was on bail awaiting sentence for another offence.

He called 999 from Ulsta on Sunday on 28 occasions when he had no need of police assistance.

Hilditch also admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner and breaching the peace by attending an Ulsta home occupied by individuals he did not know in the early hours of the morning and repeatedly ringing their doorbell.

He also breached a bail condition stipulating that he should not be in public with alcohol in his system.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said he wondered whether a psychological assessment might “provide some answers to Mr Hilditch as to why he continues to do this” as the “situation couldn’t have been made clearer to him” and he knew he was tempting fate by drinking alcohol.

Sheriff Philip Mann said he would “take a lot of persuading” that such an assessment was necessary.

He deferred sentence and remanded Hilditch in custody until 10 May – when he is due to be sentenced for running into the middle of the road in front of a vehicle and then violently struggling with police.

The sheriff, who also called for a criminal justice social inquiry report, added: “I have to say the most likely outcome is you’re going to be in custody for a considerable period of time.”