Assault accused remanded in custody

A 21-year-old man appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court this morning following an incident in Lerwick town centre at Commercial Street and Burns Walk early on Saturday.

Liam Cromwell, of Lerwick, appeared in private from custody on petition alleging assault to severe injury, permanent impairment and danger to life.

He made no plea or declaration, was committed for further examination and remanded in custody. He is expected to be back in court next Tuesday.

The victim of the assault remains critically ill in hospital on the mainland.

In a separate case a 17-year-old man appeared from custody.

Connor Couper, of Cairnfield Road, Lerwick, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, shouting and swearing, issuing challenges and engaging in fighting, all aggravated by religious prejudice.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said that first-time offender Couper’s behaviour was linked to another more serious incident, although he was not directly involved in it.

Mr MacKenzie said Couper had been drinking and was acting like a “young, argumentative drunken thug”, challenging people who he felt were looking at him.

Couper had been detained by police but was “singularly unhelpful”, said the fiscal.

Defence agent Richard Donaldson said Couper had very little recollection of the incident, as, by his own admission, he had been intoxicated after drinking at a friend’s house.

Honorary sheriff Eric Peterson said the offence was serious enough to merit a maximum of 12 months in prison or a £10,000 fine. He told Couper that such behaviour “can have serious consequences not just for yourself but for others”. But he took into account that Couper had spent the weekend in custody, and fined him £400, reduced from £600 to reflect his early plea of guilty.