Christmas curfew for man who allegedly clashed with police

A “menace” who allegedly breached his bail by struggling with police after being found drunk in a bar narrowly avoided being held in prison over Christmas and New Year.

Instead John Hutcheson, 21, of Leaside in Mossbank, was ordered to abide by a curfew over the festive period when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

Hutcheson is accused of being intoxicated in the Mid Brae Inn on Friday, defying an order insisting he should not be drunk in public.

He is further charged with behaving in a threatening manner at the pub and in a police car on the way to the police station in Lerwick, where he is said to have struggled with staff and officers, spitting as he did so.

Hutcheson’s case was continued without plea until 9th January when he appeared today before Sheriff Graeme Napier.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie argued Hutcheson should be held in remand, insisting all of his offending was fuelled by drink.

“The difficulty for him is his record. All of his offending is drink-related. It would be no exaggeration to say he’s quite simply a menace when he is drunk,” he said.

“He realises he gets into trouble when he drinks but he doesn’t have the ability not to consume alcohol.”

The court heard Hutcheson was working for a catering company and may be offered an apprenticeship in the new year.

By way of a compromise the sheriff granted Hutcheson his liberty until after Christmas, but ordered he stay indoors at his home between 8pm and 7.30am.

He was warned not to consume alcohol and to provide samples to police when required.

“That means you’re not going to have a particularly boisterous Christmas or New Year, but I suspect you’d prefer that to being in Aberdeen prison.”       

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