widget/exchange-29
widget/exchange-30widget/exchange-33
widget/exchange-31

Court / Sentence further deferred

A THIRTY nine year old man will have to wait another two months to learn his fate after sentencing was deferred for a fourth time.

John Masterman, of Leaside, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday afternoon for sentencing, but his case was deferred until 14 July.

He previously admitted intentionally or recklessly touching two girls.

One of the offences, committed against a female teenager who he worked with at a Lerwick restaurant, took place between 1 and 31 August 2018.

The second saw Masterman sexually assault a girl aged under 16 in her family home on various occasions between 1 January and 22 June 2021.

The latest deferral was because a psychological report was not prepared in time, and the court heard this was down to a misunderstanding.

Speaking via video link sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said she was prepared to give Masterman the benefit of the doubt.

Due to Sheriff Pasportnikov’s schedule the case was deferred until 14 July, with Masterman’s bail continued.

offset-carousel/post-mobile/0

The case was first deferred in March for social work reports, with Masterman remanded in custody.

But when it reappeared later that month Masterman had successfully appealed his remand, with Sheriff Ian Cruickshank requesting a stand-in sheriff to take his place as he felt he was no longer in a position to pass sentence.

When the case appeared again in April Sheriff Pasportnikov requested a psychological report and deferred sentence.

Space2face

Space2face Shetland

Space2face Shetland is an independent and confidential service which uses Restorative Justice and the arts to bring those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for the harm into communication. We enable everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.

If you would like to reach out to us, please contact us via e-mail info@space2face.org or mobile 07564 832467.

If you would like to know more, visit our website www.space2face.org, or our Facebook page #space2faceshetland.


The project is also currently fundraising to secure office space in Shetland’s brand-new creativity and wellness centre, The Mission. If you’re interested in getting involved, or making a donation, head over to www.space2face.org/how-you-can-help

 
widget/pd_widget-6widget/pd_widget-7widget/pd_widget-8widget/pd_widget-9

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.