Court / Court round-up 15 May 2025

A CONFISCATION order for £2,760 was made at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday in relation to a man who was recently imprisoned in connection with a drugs offence.

The hearing for Ryan Henry, of Lerwick’s North Lochside, heard that benefits from the crime amounted to £4,460 – but £2,760 was available.

The 46-year-old was given a 12-month prison sentence for knowingly permitting or offering his premises to be used for the purpose of supplying heroin between 5 July and 18 August last year.

A confiscation hearing for his co-accused Jessica Richards, 34, of Lerwick’s Ladies Drive, was continued to 4 June.

Richards was given a two year sentence for being concerned in the supply of heroin between 5 July and 18 August in the town.

A MAN who caused “extreme distress” to a woman in a busy Lerwick pub by fondling her breasts has had his sentence deferred for the preparation of a social work report.

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Nicol McLaren, of Blairgowrie, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to admit sexually touching a female on 28 January.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the 64-year-old was introduced to the woman by two people he knew in the pub after finishing compering at an event elsewhere in Lerwick.

After getting talking, he was stood in front of the woman and said he could do a magic trick – to make “boobs levitate”.

Mackenzie said McLaren then groped her breasts and lifted them up – leaving the woman “extremely shocked”.

Feeling degraded, the woman “laughed it off” at the time but then went to the toilets with a friend and “broke down”, the court heard.

“She felt that she was completely violated,” Mackenzie said, adding that the woman then left by another exit and was picked up to go home.

The court heard that the woman sought support from local services and then reported the incident to the police. Mackenzie said when interviewed by police, McLaren initially denied the incident happened.

Sheriff David Harvie adjourned the case until 2 July to allow for the preparation of a social work report, with McLaren ordered to arrange notification requirements under the sex offenders register.

His defence is due to speak in mitigation at the next hearing.

A YOUNG man’s “momentary lapse” of attention while driving in Lerwick has resulted in a £300 fine and five penalty points.

Zac Price, of Mid Yell, admitted driving carelessly on Lerwick’s South Road on 19 June last year.

The court heard how his car collided with the rear of a stationary vehicle which was sat at a red traffic light, causing the rear bumper to fall off.

The charge also stated that the tread of the car’s front tyres did not meet the required standard.

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Defence agent Gregor Kelly said his client was “momentarily distracted” by looking at a junction.

A MAN has been fined £200 after admitting behaving aggressively towards another patron in a Lerwick pub and swearing at her.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday how Ronald Watt, of the town’s Da Vadill, swore at the woman after taking a seat in the Douglas Arms bar which she said was for someone else.

The court was told that during the incident, on 16 August last year, the 59-year-old also told the woman from Aberdeen that he could sit wherever he wanted to because “he was from here” – and she was not.

Defence agent Tommy Allan told court that his client said things he now regrets and conceded that he did not handle the situation well.

A WOMAN from Sandness has fallen foul of the totting-up procedure and been disqualified from driving for six months.

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Stacey Ryan, 29, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to driving as a provisional licence holder with no passenger and no L plates, and with no insurance, at the Gilbert Bain Hospital on 17 September last year.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the offence came to light when the police were called to the hospital car park regarding a vehicle which had rolled from its parking space.

He said when police arrived Ryan was moving the car back into the parking space.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the woman had been attending the hospital for an appointment and had been driven into Lerwick by a friend.

He said the friend was due to drive her back to the Westside but was not present when the car rolled out of the parking space – with Ryan going into the car to drive it back into the bay.

Sheriff David Harvie fined Ryan £400 for the licence offence and gave her eight penalty points for the no insurance – which resulted in a six-month ban as her existing points took her over the ‘totting up’ threshold.