Sheriff gives ‘boy racer’ who drove at 51mph in town chance to prove himself

A “boy racer” was given the chance to prove he has put his antics behind him at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Thomas Currie, 19, of Stennestwatt in Walls, escaped a driving ban. Instead he had nine penalty points placed on his licence and was fined £650.

Currie drove his two-door Ford Focus carelessly on 31st August at King Harald Street.

He pulled away harshly from outside Islesburgh, preventing another car from completing an overtaking manoeuvre.

On 16th October he drove at 51mph along South Lochside.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie told the court: “It’s fair to say the accused could be described as being of the boy racer fraternity, and his driving manner is of that type.

“The concept of smooth and progressive driving is one that would be alien to him.”

But the court heard Currie was now more interested in miles per gallon than miles per hour, after getting a job with a landscape gardener in Burra.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Currie still had the Focus – described by Currie as being “covered in stickers” – but was no longer using it. Since the offence he had bought a VW Bora.

“The performance figure he was most keen to tell me was that it does 60mpg. He is staying in Walls and working as a landscape gardener in Burra.”

Sheriff Graeme Napier warned Currie he was on the “cusp” of losing his licence.

But he said he would give him a chance to prove his boy-racing days were now behind him.

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A teenager walked up to a man in the street and carried out an assault without warning.

Shaun Smith, 17, of Bruce Crescent, Lerwick, struck his victim on the head on 2nd July last year in Commercial Road.

He forced him to the ground and repeatedly kicked and stamped on his head, all to his injury.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court today Smith pleaded guilty to the assault, and struggling with staff in Tesco, from where he was banned.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the assault took place in the middle of the afternoon in front of pedestrians and passing vehicles.

“He saw the complainer and simply went for him,” he said.

His victim had suffered a “nasty cut” to the back of his head, which required two stitches.

He also had a cut to his forehead and a number of superficial cuts and bruises.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly said Smith’s “rash and impetuous” behaviour took place after Smith’s victim started having a relationship with Smith’s girlfriend.

He said text messages had been sent which Smith had seen as “taunting” and “rubbing his nose in it”.

Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence for background reports.

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When Stephen Henderson began knocking on doors in the early hours of Christmas morning after drinking heavily he attracted the attention of an eagle-eyed home owner who reported him to the police.

The 20-year-old, of Nikkavord Lea in Baltasound, was caught after being spotted kicking a front door. He entered the house and started rifling through the CD collection.

Henderson was left £800 out of pocket at Lerwick Sheriff Court todday after admitting maliciously damaging the door of the house at the town’s Clairmont Place.

Henderson had booked into a guest house after becoming stuck in Lerwick because of the bad weather.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Henderson spent the day and night of Christmas Eve drinking on his own in various pubs.

At 3am he disturbed one woman he did not know by banging on her door, insisting he “wanted to come in for a chat”.

She was up late making preparations for her childrens’ Christmas and “did not entertain him at all”.

However Henderson went to another property and started “hammering” on the door.

The householder, returning home, saw Henderson. But he decided to wait until he went away, because he did not want to speak to him.

Henderson kicked the door and the police were called. Henderson was found in a back room, going through CDs.

“He was extremely drunk and could offer no explanation for this action,” said Mr MacKenzie.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Henderson accepted he had drunk too much.

However since then Henderson had found employment at a fish factory in Yell, and was getting his life back on track.

Sheriff Graeme Napier fined Henderson £675. But he also ordered the home owner to be compensated to the tune of £125.

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