Unpaid work for man from Bath

A MAN from Bath who assaulted his partner and embarked on a “very violent struggle” with police officers has been placed on a community payback order.

Simon Cooper, of Queen’s Drive, was given a total of 12 months supervision and 200 hours of unpaid work to complete when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

The 31 year old was also placed on a curfew for four months which will prohibit him from leaving his home between 7pm and 7am, seven days a week.

Cooper previously admitted assaulting the woman at an address in Lerwick on 7 November and seizing hold of her by the arm, grabbing her by the face and striking her head off an internal wall to her injury.

He also previously admitted restricting, obstructing or hindering two police constables at the same address on the same day and struggling violently with them.

In addition, Cooper previously pleaded guilty to attending the woman’s address, elsewhere in Lerwick, on 17 November without reasonable excuse and in breach of bail conditions before struggling violently with police officers.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday, defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client expressed remorse for the offences and added that he had kicked his drug habit.

Sheriff Philip Mann said his previous decision in December to take the case step by step and twice defer it for social work reports had been a “good shout” as Cooper had been of good behaviour since.

Giving the 31 year old the community payback order as a direct alternative to custody, the sheriff warned Cooper that further offending would see him sent to prison.

“Please take this opportunity to address your difficulties,” he said. “Keep yourself out of trouble.”