Court / Man given £2,000 fine for threatening or abusive behaviour towards police officers
A MAN whose behaviour soured after being denied re-entry to a Lerwick pub on what was described as a rare night out drinking has been fined £2,000.
Kieran Marshall, of Crieff, admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on 17 November last year at the Douglas Arms pub, in a police van and at Lerwick Police Station itself.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday how the 32-year-old spat and urinated in a police van as well as the custody cells.
The charge also included attempting to force entry to the pub, struggling with police officers and shouting, swearing and uttering threats at them, as well as repeatedly kicking and butting the inside of a police van.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Marshall had left the pub but was unable to get back in, pulling on the locked door handles with force.
The police were called and managed to take him away from the door, but Marshall became “instantly aggressive” towards officers and swore at them.
The court heard Marshall resisted handcuffs and struggled with officers before being subdued.
When police officers managed to get him inside their vehicle, he began striking the inside of the van, including headbutting, before spitting and urinating.
The court heard that a spit hood was placed on Marshall when he arrived at the police station, before he struggled with officers again and urinated on the cell floor.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said the incident was “very out of character” for Marshall, who was ashamed by his conduct.
He said his client rarely drinks and had too much alcohol before the offence occurred.
The solicitor said Marshall, who was in Lerwick for work, had suggested there may have been some sleepwalking at play in the cells, but added this was not an excuse for his behaviour.
Allan also noted that Marshall’s last previous conviction was in 2012, and since that time he has settled down with a family, and has a steady job with decent earnings.
After taking everything into account, including Marshall’s “historic” previous convictions, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said he would stop short of calling for social work reports.
He issued a £2,000 fine, with a £75 victim surcharge added on top, to reflect the court’s disapproval of behaviour like this towards police officers.
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