Court / Drink driver struggled with police officers
AN AQUACULTURE worker from Walls has been banned from driving for two years and fined for assaulting police officers.
Police were alerted by local people concerned about the manner of Thomas Currie’s driving near Tingwall Airport and at North Road in Lerwick in the afternoon of 1 June.
The 33-year old was arrested at Commercial Road after he had pulled in at Cheyne Crescent and ran off.
A struggle with three police officers ensued during which one female officer sustained minor bruising to her leg.
Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday how Currie could only be subdued by officers using pepper spray.
He was then taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital for the effect of the spray where he continued to behave in an uncooperative way and failed to provide his details to police officers, the court was told.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client had asked for the case to be accelerated to allow him to go back to work which is away from Shetland.
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said Currie could reduce the two-year disqualification by one quarter should he successfully complete the drink driver rehabilitation course.
Currie was also fined £800 for the drink driving and £400 for the struggle with police officers.
He was also ordered to pay £300 to the Restitution Fund which provides support services for victims of police assault.
If you have been affected by crime, help is available. Whether you are victim, a witness, or the accused, you can find independent, impartial, and confidential support in Shetland.
For victims of general crime:
Victim Support Shetland
Phone: 01595744524 or 0800 1601985
Web: https://victimsupport.scot/locations/victim-support-shetland/
Email: VictimSupportHighlandsIslands@victimsupportsco.org.uk
For anyone affected by crime & harm seeking a restorative approach:
Space2face
Phone: 07564 832467
Web: https://www.space2face.org
Email: info@space2face.org
For anyone affected by gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, coercive control, stalking, sexual assault, and rape:
Shetland Women’s Aid
Phone: 01595 692070
Web: https://www.shetlandwa.org
Email: office@shetlandwa.org
The Compass Centre (Shetland Rape Crisis)
Phone: 01595 744402 or 08088 010302
Web: https://www.compasscentre.org
Email: contact@compasscentre.org
For anyone affected by substance use:
Shetland Recovery Hub and Community Network
Phone: 01595 744402
Web: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075791869200
Email: recoveryhub@shetland.gov.uk
Shetland Alcohol & Drug Partnership
Phone: 01595 743060 or 07342 077789
Web: https://shetlandadp.org.uk
Email: shet.sadp@nhs.scot
Substance Use Recovery Service
Phone: 01595 743006
