Thursday 28 March 2024
 7°C   E Moderate Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / Possessed machete and assaulted man in town

A MAN from Lerwick who possessed a machete and committed assault has been placed under supervision for one year and given unpaid work to complete.

Jack Deacon, of South Road, previously admitted possessing the item without reasonable excuse on Lerwick’s Ladies Drive, North Road and elsewhere on 26 March.

The 20 year old also pled guilty to assaulting a man on the same day on Ladies Drive and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body to his injury.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Deacon committed an “unprovoked” assault on someone who used to be a friend.

The victim suffered a number of injuries, including swelling around the left eye and ear, grazes, bruises and a slightly swollen and dislodged nose.

Later on Deacon was in a group of associates who left a house before tensions arose with another group.

The 20 year old had a machete within his waistband, but one of his friends decided to remove it and throw it away.

The item was later found by police when they attended the scene.

Deacon had said he was in the middle of taking the knife to his girlfriend’s so she could use it for protection – something which Mackenzie did not not accept.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client “accepts the seriousness” of the incident but maintained that the knife was fully sheathed.

The solicitor admitted, however, that offences with knives often lead to young men ending up on “slabs in mortuaries”.

Kelly suggested that his client has struggled to cope with the death of his mother, which happened in his youth, with the offence taking place on Mother’s Day.

The defence agent said it had appeared Deacon “moved to Shetland to find some solace, but what he’s done is the opposite by bringing high-level violence to the community”.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

Sheriff Philip Mann said his instincts suggested he should send the 20 year old to jail.

“It’s inexplicable why you should act in this manner,” he said.

But taking into account Deacon’s career prospects and the fact that he could only send him to jail if it was the only viable option, the sheriff decided against custody.

Instead, he placed him on a community payback order including supervision and 160 hours of unpaid work, while he was also told to pay £500 in compensation to his victim.

Sheriff Mann granted Mackenzie’s request to forfeit the machete.

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.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.