Court round-up 27 August 2026

A ROCHDALE man has admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine after being caught at the NorthLink ferry terminal in Lerwick.

James Heaney, 31, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of the class A drug after being stopped at the Holmsgarth ferry terminal on 10 December last year.

Heaney was not at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to register his plea, but defence agent Tommy Allan said Heaney would be pleading guilty.

However Sheriff Robert Frazer decided to defer sentencing for Heaney to appear in person before the court and for background reports to be provided.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said he would reserve his narration of the case until Heaney was present.

Heaney will return for sentencing on 23 September.

A WOMAN whose dangerous driving in dense fog caused other road users to swerve to avoid her has been ordered to appear at court.

Jennifer Welsh, 37, admitted to driving dangerously on the A970 public road between Cunningsburgh and Lerwick on 3 June.

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Welsh, from Sandwick, repeatedly veered back and forth across the centre line and onto the wrong side of the road during a foggy night.

The manner of her driving meant oncoming vehicles had to take evasive action to avoid a collision with her.

Welsh pleaded guilty by letter at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, but Sheriff Robert Frazer was concerned that she had not taken legal instruction before pleading.

He deferred sentencing until 23 September, and instructed Welsh to appear in person before the court.

THE CROWN has refused to accept an amended charge in the case of 25-year-old Cory Williamson, who will go to trial in October.

Williamson’s solicitor Marc Dickson said his client would plead guilty to an amended charge that said he “held” a knife at J.W. Grays Lerwick warehouse on 22 May, instead of “brandished”.

He said Williamson, from Lerwick’s Hoofields, would also plead not guilty to having in his possession an offensive weapon, namely a pocket knife.

However procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said those pleas were not acceptable to the Crown.

Williamson has pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at Grays on 22 May and brandishing a knife and running towards staff.

The trial date was set for 22 October.

A WOMAN from Lerwick who allowed a man to use a car without insurance has been fined.

Karley Firmin, from Mounthooly Street, allowed the man to drive the vehicle at South Road in Lerwick on 28 April without a policy of insurance.

Lerwick Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday that Firmin, 22, had “simply forgot” to arrange the insurance and that it had been a case of “oversight”.

Sheriff Robert Frazer said the accused had produced a full explanatory letter to the court, which he accepted.

Firmin was fined £400 and her licence was endorsed with six penalty points.