From Lerwick Sheriff Court – 13 May 2026

A MAN from Midlothian who sent sexual images of himself to a shop worker while in Shetland for work has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Robert Nelson, of Ladywell, Musselburgh, was also put under supervision for two years as part of a community payback order. His name was also added to the sex offenders’ register for the same period.

Nelson had pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court in April.

Last month the court heard the 50-year-old had been assisted by the woman in a local shop on 10 September last year, only to be contacted by him via Facebook later the same day.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court how Nelson had sent images of himself showing him naked and exposing his genitals.

In court today, defence solicitor Tommy Allan said the offence had happened after a difficult break up from a former partner and added that his client had been drunk and had no recollection of what he did.

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Sheriff Ian Cruickshank said the narrative he had heard made it an offence that needed to be taken seriously.

He told Nelson the community payback order imposed was a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.

MEANWHILE, a young man from Tingwall received a similar sentence after previously pleading guilty to charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and entering a dwelling house without invite.

Calvin Hunter was found with a kitchen knife when police attended the incident at a house in Gott just before 7am on 29 December last year.

Police were called after the 24-year-old had been found lying intoxicated on the second floor of the family home and was instructed to leave.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allen told Lerwick Sheriff Court last month that his client had been “very intoxicated” and was suffering from complex mental health issues.

On Wednesday he said that he agreed with the criminal justice social work report that supervision for his client was needed, adding that his client would welcome unpaid work.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank imposed a community payback order that includes a two year period of supervision and the requirement to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within the first 12 months of the order.

A first review of the order will take place in three months.