Court / Man given prison sentence for assault
A MAN who was due to face trial in front of a jury this week has been given a prison sentence after admitting an assault charge.
Adam Nelson, of whose address was provided as Grampian Prison, was sentenced to 16 months in prison when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday to admit two charges.
The sentence on the 36-year-old was backdated to March when he first entered custody.
Nelson admitted an amended charge of assaulting a woman at a house in Lerwick on 7 March by seizing hold of her by the neck, pulling her to the floor and punching her on the head to her injury.
He also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on the same date at the same property and in a police vehicle by shouting, swearing and uttering threats to police officers.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said the complainer was known to Nelson, and was more friendly with his sister.
He said the woman had been at Nelson’s sister’s house nearby but “some sort of argument” ensued, with the complainer then leaving the property.
The court heard how an angry Nelson followed her home, with his behaviour “frightening” the complainer.
The court was told how the complainer’s dogs became frightened, and as the woman was stood at the door to let them out the house, he grabbed her from behind.
Mackenzie said Nelson put one hand on her throat, and also punched her three times to the face.
The woman then “curled up into a ball” in a bid to protect herself. She attended hospital the next day after suffering injuries including bruising.
Mackenzie said the complainer was able to call 999 from the property at the time but was speaking quietly and was “clearly frightened”.
Police attended the property but the woman was too distressed to provide a statement at the time.
Mackenzie said Nelson was placed in a police vehicle but was shouting and swearing at officers. “That behaviour continues in the police vehicle en-route to the police station and within the police station,” he said.
Defence agent George Mathers said from his client’s point of view, the complainer attended his sister’s house after arrangements were made to buy medication similar to Valium.
He said the complainer arrived at the house with the medication – but nowhere near the amount expected, with claims she may have been trying to “cheat” his sibling.
Mathers said Nelson – who was under the influence of drugs at the time and had attended his sister’s address after falling out with his partner – “very much regrets” his behaviour and said he had never assaulted a woman before.
He added that when Nelson woke up following a sleep in custody, “he asked why he was there” – and was distressed and ashamed when he found out what he did.
The solicitor added that Nelson wished to apologise to police officers of his behaviour too.
Mathers also gave lengthy background on Nelson’s past, with his client – who moved to Shetland as a teenager – having a “horrendous background” which included family issues, bereavement, an unstable youth and early drug use.
He pointed to adverse childhood experiences which could give an answer to the path Nelson’s life has taken.
Mathers encouraged Sheriff Ian Cruickshank to consider a drug treatment testing order as a sentencing option, particularly given Nelson had already spent around eight months in custody.
However the Sheriff said the offences, and Nelson’s previous convictions, meant the custody threshold had been passed.
In addition to a 16-month sentence a non-harassment order was also imposed on the complainer for two years and six months.
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