Trouble-causer told to “grow up” by sheriff

When trouble-maker Grant Huntington went to an address in Lerwick’s Grostane he started hammering on the door and broke a pane of glass.

Huntington, who was with another at the time, threatened the occupant, but quickly “took to his heels” after the police arrived.

He struggled violently with officers as they tried to apprehend him, and even tried to act the “hard man” once at the police station.

Huntington, 24, of Aberdeen’s Great Northern Road was ordered to carry out 260 hours of unpaid work when he admitted the offence in court today.

He was also banned from getting behind the wheel for a year after pleading guilty to driving at the Brig o’ Fitch with no insurance on 12th February.

Huntington also admitted breaching a curfew order and failing to appear at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the incident in Grostane arose out of ill-feeling against the resident there.

“They were shouting and swearing, hammering on the door. That broke the pane of glass. The police were called and he took to his heels.”

He added police had to give chase on foot for a short distance, and managed to keep Huntington under control despite his struggling with them.

“Back at the police station, again he was trying to act the hard man.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Huntington had been behaving himself “in broad terms”.

The offending started when Huntington had just come out of a long-term relationship with his girlfriend.

“He was struggling to cope with that.”

Mr Allan said Huntington had secured his own tenancy in Aberdeen, where he was attempting to turn his life around.

Huntington had secured a trial period of work with a car valeting firm, but believed that opportunity would now be lost because of a period during which he had been remanded.

Sheriff Mann urged Huntington to attend any alcohol counselling he may be required to undertake.

“It’s clear to me that you really need to grow up and grow up quickly. You really need to take responsibility for what happens to yourself,” the sheriff said.

“Everybody would be happy if you just took a tumble to yourself and realised you are responsible for your own destiny. If you don’t realise that you’re really just on a one-way road, and that’s towards prison.”