Court / Court round-up 6 May 2026
SENTENCE has been deferred on a man from Lerwick who admitted an assault which left the victim needing to be taken to hospital.
Wayne Hunter, of Sandveien, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to assaulting the man at an address in the town on 26 September 2024.
The charge stated that the 37-year-old repeatedly punched the man on the head and body, rendering him unconscious to his severe injury.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Hunter had been drinking in pubs that day following a funeral.
He said he had been given “false information” about someone else relating to a family situation, with Hunter attending at the man’s address at around 9pm.
The victim “was immediately set upon by the accused”, Mackenzie said.
He said the man was knocked to the floor and at one point lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, Hunter had gone, the court heard.
When police arrived at the property they found the victim with a number of injuries, with the room in disarray and a “pool of blood” located where the man had been lying unconscious.
Hunter had been identified as a suspect, the court heard, and DNA was recovered from a black tie and sunglasses which he had left at the property.
Mackenzie said injuries sustained by the man included a deviated nasal septum, bruises to the face, torso and limbs and a laceration under the left eye.
With sentence deferred until 3 June for a social work report, defence agent Gregor Kelly said he would reserve mitigation until the next hearing.
However, he said it had been a number of years since Hunter’s last offending.
Kelly also passed on letters of support from Hunter’s partner and his employer.
A MAN appeared in private at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday on two sexual offences charges, including rape.
Michael Noblett, of Aberdeen, made no plea and was committed for further examination. The 28-year-old was granted bail.
TWO people from Lerwick appeared in the dock on Wednesday after a learner driver took to the wheel without L plates or insurance.
Barry Coutts, 29, of Hoofields, was given 60 hours of unpaid work and six penalty points after admitting the two charges.
Jemma Irvine, 26, of Ladies Drive, was fined £300 and given six penalty points for letting Coutts use her vehicle.
The incident happened at the Sound Service Station in Lerwick on 29 December.
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said Coutts had wrongly thought he was insured to drive.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
