Court / Man heavily fined for drunkenly breaking into Mossbank address

A MAN who drunkenly smashed the window of a woman he held “unreciprocated romantic hopes” for has been ordered not to contact her for four years.

James Maloney, from Brae, was also heavily fined after admitting smashing the window in Mossbank on 27 November 2024.

The 33-year-old had also previously admitted breaching his bail conditions by “deliberately” positioning himself in the woman’s way in the Welcome Inn pub on 5 November 2025.

Maloney pleaded guilty to the charge of breach of the peace today (Thursday) at Lerwick Sheriff Court, just before the case called for trial.

The incident was described as “somewhat strange”, with Maloney and the woman drinking in the same bar in the night in question.

Maloney “harboured unreciprocated romantic hopes” for the woman, procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court.

She left and went home, and later Maloney left for his home – before deciding to go to another address shortly afterwards.

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On his way Maloney passed the woman’s address, where she was lying in bed, and “for some reason” decided to put a brick through her window, the fiscal added.

The woman was “extremely distressed” to find Maloney in her kitchen when she went downstairs, and ordered him to leave before calling the police.

Maloney told the police he had looked through her window and “saw her lying on the kitchen floor”, something Mackenzie said was “clearly not true”.

Despite being in possession of his own phone, Maloney “for whatever bizarre reason” went to a neighbour’s house and asked them to call an ambulance.

He then went on to smash the window, causing £533 of damage – which Shetland Islands Council was forced to cover – and injuring himself in the process.

Maloney required 12 stitches as a result.

The fiscal said the woman was “distressed and concerned” by the incident, and was supportive of a non-harassment order being imposed.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the incident took place some time ago, and Maloney had since moved from Mossbank to Brae.

He admitted Maloney had “got too drunk” on the night in question, and had been taken home from the pub.

Maloney only decided to leave because he was hungry and had no food in the house, so went to his ex-wife’s house to eat and sleep.

Allan added that this was “not an uncommon thing for him to do”.

Along the way Maloney heard loud music from the complainer’s address and thought there might be a party on.

Allan admitted his client had looked in the window and “thought there was someone lying on the floor”.

However, he admitted that the amount of alcohol he had taken would have had an impact on his decision-making.

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“The bottom line is he’s just got himself too drunk and misread the situation,” Allan added.

Maloney was “sorry for what had happened to her” and “glad that she wasn’t really hurt”.

Sheriff Philip Mann said Maloney had a “bit of a record” which “isn’t very good”.

He told the 33-year-old that if his behaviour continued there was a “very high chance” that he would be sent to prison.

The sheriff fined Maloney £900 for the breach of the peace, and told him that non-payment of the fine would see him jailed instead.

He was also ordered to pay Shetland Islands Council £533 to cover the cost of the broken window.

Maloney was fined £100 for breaching bail too, giving him an overall financial penalty of £1,533.

A non-harassment order was imposed between Maloney and the complainer for a period of four years, with Maloney told not to approach or contact, or to attempt to approach or contact her during this time.