Court / Man behind major Unst shop theft remanded in custody

A MAN who stole almost £2,000 worth of goods from a remote Shetland shop has been remanded in custody after failing to appear at court.

Jamie Brown was arrested after his non-appearance at Lerwick Sheriff Court last month.

Brown had previously admitted stealing nearly £2,000 worth of items from Skibhoul Stores in Unst after a late night raid on 30 October last year.

The 35-year-old, from Hebburn in South Tyneside, was in the island visiting his father when he carried out the theft, which involved smashing a window at the shop to break in.

He stole 82 packs of cigarettes, 26 boxes of matches, 100 packs of cigarette papers, 19 bottles of spirits, a money box, charity box and £155 in cash during the raid.

The estimated cost of the lost items was £1,826.76, with the window costing a further £341 to repair.

Brown also admitted to causing his father fear or alarm by behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, and uttering threats.

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He was released on bail in January, with his sentencing deferred for a criminal justice social work report to be carried out.

However Brown failed to appear at court earlier this month for sentencing, with defence agent Tommy Allan saying he had not contacted him to explain why.

A warrant was then issued for his arrest.

Brown appeared via video-link today (Friday), with Allan saying that he had been unable to get on a train for his court appearance earlier this month after suffering a panic attack.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie however said that over a “very short space of time two warrants have had to be obtained” for Brown.

Mackenzie said Brown “hasn’t co-operated this far” and argued he should be remanded in custody until his next court appearance next month.

Allan asked for Brown to get “one more chance to get here under his own steam”.

But honorary Sheriff Willie Shannon said Brown’s failure to appear meant he should remain in custody until a background report was ready to be delivered to the court.

Brown was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on 11 March.