Taxi damage compensation

A JOINER from Lerwick who caused “extensive damage” to a taxi while drunk has been ordered to pay £1,750 in compensation.

James Cruickshank, of Sandveien, was also given 70 hours of unpaid work to complete when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

The 25 year old previously admitted repeatedly punching the dashboard and steering column of the vehicle, thereby breaking an integrated multimedia screen and lighting stalk, at Sandveien on 30 April.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Cruickshank’s bout of anger in the taxi was sparked more by his “state of mind at the time” rather than the driver.

The “extensive damage” to the vehicle cost nearly £1,700 to repair in total, Mackenzie said, while the taxi driver was unable to work for two weeks as a result.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had been on an all-day drinking session and could not remember the incident.

However, he said Cruickshank had a feeling that he may have been taken to the wrong address, which may have caused his anger.

Allan added that the 25 year old then fell asleep in the taxi, with the driver phoning the police.

A “mortified” Cruickshank contacted the taxi owner afterwards to apologise for his behaviour and to ask about damage.

“I don’t know what you were playing at here, and I dare say you don’t know either,” Sheriff Philip Mann said.

The sheriff described the offence as “completely out of order and unwarranted”.