Court / ‘No discernible reason’ for assault which left one person permanently injured

A MAN who suddenly attacked his father and stepmother for no apparent reason – leaving the woman permanently injured – has had his sentence deferred.

Marc Watt, from Lerwick’s North Road, left his stepmother with permanent disfigurement after the random attack on 16 June last year.

The 52-year old had been attending the pair’s home to collect a birthday present before launching into an assault on the couple seemingly out of nowhere, and without saying anything to them.

He called the police himself hours after the attack, saying he “felt sick” about it.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that Watt and his father had a few drinks before the assault, but that there was “no excessive consumption” of alcohol.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Watt arrived at the home at around 4pm and did not appear to be intoxicated in any way.

At around 6.50pm, Watt launched himself at his father and started punching him repeatedly on the head.

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When his stepmother stepped in, Watt “turned his attention to her” and began repeatedly punching her instead.

“At no point did he say anything to the two complainers,” Mackenzie told the court.

“There was no discernible reason for him to act the way he did.”

Watt ran out of the property, and the pair called the police before taking themselves to hospital.

While the man was “fortunate” only to suffer slight swelling and bruising, his partner was “less fortunate”.

Both of her eardrums were ruptured as a result of the attack, and she sustained a significant injury to her left eye.

That injury required surgery, which would have required a bone under her eye to be pushed back into place.

However the woman refused to have the surgery, due to a fear of general anaesthetics, which meant she was left with a permanent protrusion and bruising.

She continues to experience pain due to the injury, and has to take painkillers daily, the fiscal added.

Watt became aware police were looking for him after the attack and called police himself at around 1am on 17 June 2025.

Police arrived, and when he was arrested Watt told them: “I’ve heard what I’ve allegedly done and I feel sick.” He told police he had a “funny turn” at his father’s house.

Mackenzie said that neither Watt’s father, nor his stepmother, wanted contact with him anymore.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly said that Watt had felt sick about the incident immediately afterwards, and that “still remains his position to this day”.

Kelly said his client would respect the complainers’ wishes for no contact.

And he added he was “under no illusion” about the seriousness of the matter.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank called for a social work report on Watt, with Kelly reserving further mitigation until his next appearance.

The sheriff said he would “await with interest what mitigation is to be presented”.