Teenager faces trial after series of alleged offences

A teenager who denied various charges at Lerwick Sheriff Court today will proceed to trial in June.

Appearing from custody Shaun Smith, 17, of Bruce Crescent, Lerwick, pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm by telling a man he would set a dog on him and kick his door in. The incident is alleged to have happened on 19th March at Shetland Bike Project premises, Commercial Road.

Smith also pleaded not guilty to wilfully and recklessly breaking a door handle of a property in the town’s St Olaf Street, also on 19th March, and of having cannabis resin, a class B drug, at King Harald Street on Friday.

All charges are said to have been committed while Smith was on bail.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan asked Honorary Sheriff Arnold Duncan to take into account Smith’s age and the fact that he had already spent three days in the cells. Smith, he said, suffered from depression and now felt he needed to see a doctor. Smith accepted he had been at Shetland Bike Project but the incident related to the theft of a bike.

The sheriff released Smith on bail with two special conditions – that he does not contact or approach the complainer and does not go into the bike project.

Smith will go to trial on 16th June with an intermediate diet on 1st June.