Men fined for Posers fracas

TWO men involved in a fracas at a Lerwick nightclub last year were fined at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

John Hutcheson and Mitchell Cross pleaded guilty to separate charges arising from the same incident during a drunken night out on 2 September.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Makenzie told the court that Hutcheson, 27, whose address was given as South Lochside, Lerwick, but who now lives in Kemnay, had hurled homophobic insults at doorstaff of Posers Nightclub before returning to attack them.

After Hutcheson was restrained, Cross – who was out “enjoying himself in fancy dress” – decided to get involved, and grabbed the doorman who was restraining Hutcheson and tried to stick his fingers up his nose.

Tommy Allan, defending Hutcheson, said his client had been celebrating winning a football cup when excessive drink was taken and things got out of hand.

Since the incident, Hutcheson, who had a long criminal record, had turned over a new leaf, was free of drugs, in work and “away from his old compadres”.

Representing Cross on behalf of other solicitors, Allan said that Cross had taken exception to the “heavy handed” way his friend was being treated and decided to intervene.

Hutcheson admitted the charge of threatening and abusive behaviour at a previous hearing.

Cross, 26, of Whiteness, pleaded guilty to assault by grabbing the doorman by his hood and attempting to insert his fingers in his nose.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank fined Hutcheson £400, with £100 of that attributed to homophobic aggravation, while Cross was fined £450.