Young offender remanded for breaching bail by sending offensive text messages

A young offender has been put back behind bars for sending offensive text messages – less than a week after he was released on bail in relation to a string of other offences.

Shaun Smith, 17, of Ladies Drive, Lerwick, admitted sending the texts when he appeared from custody at the town’s sheriff court today.

The offence, which happened on Friday, was the latest in a number of bail breaches committed by Smith since April.

Last month he was remanded in custody after he denied pushing a girl down a flight of stairs at his home.

But he appealed the bail refusal to the High Court in Edinburgh and was subsequently released on a 7pm-7am curfew.

He broke that bail order and was back in court last week, where he admitted the assault. But he was allowed his liberty until 2nd November for the preparation of a social enquiry report.

Smith has also previously admitted letting his pit bull go dangerously out of control at an address in Lerwick’s Cheyne Crescent in July. The dog went into a garden and bit a man and another dog.

Later, on 28th July, he failed to keep the dog, which has since been destroyed, on a muzzle or a lead.

The following day he fled from police and locked himself in a room.

Today, defence agent Tommy Allan said Smith had kept his job, although he admitted: “He must now be running out of ways to breach the bail.”

Sheriff Graeme Napier wasted no time in remanding Smith. He said: “You’ve just pushed your luck too far this time. I’ve called for a report on you for 2nd November. You will be remanded in custody in the meantime.”