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Man is fined and handed ordered to stay away from woman after breaking window

A man has been handed his second non harassment order after he admitted breaking a window at his partner’s address.

Barry Coutts, 43, of Grodians in Lerwick repeatedly struck the double-glazed window with a plant pot.

It came after he had become involved in an argument with the woman, making “unfounded allegations of infidelity”.

The woman then went to a female friend’s house, but Coutts contacted her on social media and made threats.

Coutts admitted the offence when he appeared before Honorary Sheriff Willie Shannon on Monday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Coutts had previous convictions of domestic aggravations which related to a different partner. In that instance, a non-harassment order had been imposed.

Mr MacKenzie called for another order to be imposed in relation to the new offence.

“The message is not getting through,” he said.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said that, while it appeared there were two previous incidents, the first of those was a bail contravention which related to the subsequent conviction.

“There was a breach of a court order, but it was not at the most serious level,” he said.

Mr Allan said Coutts had fallen out with his partner the day before his birthday, and had subsequently faced his birthday on his own.

“He became very upset and took, he thinks, 100 Valium tablets with the intention of doing away with himself.

“With that in his system he accepts he entered the house and broke the window.

“So far as the non-harassment order is concerned, you’re obliged to consider that, and if both parties want to see each other an application can be made and the order can be lifted.”

Honorary Sheriff Shannon fined Coutts £200, which the accused will have to pay on top of an outstanding sum he is already paying from a previous financial penalty.

He also granted the non-harassment order for 12 months.

Councillor resigns from development committee

Stephen Leask has resigned as vice-chairman of the SIC’s development committee.

The Lerwick councillor announced his resignation on Monday afternoon “with regret”, stating that his “opposition and intimations regarding self-determination are at odds with the council’s political hierarchy”.

This meant his position was “untenable”.

He is the second councillor to resign from a committee recently, following Ian Scott’s announcement last week that he would be quitting as licensing board chairman.

Mr Leask said self-determination “should and must be dealt with at a democratic level” rather than “within the walls of the council chambers”.

He called his time as development vice-chairman an “immersive and enlightening process”.

Mr Leask paid tribute to development staff in his resignation as well as chairman Alastair Cooper for his “sage and capable advice”, adding he would “forever be in his debt”.

Praise for school’s Covid-19 response as it emerges headteacher is among those in self-isolation

Staff and authorities have been praised for their “professional and reassuring” response after a Shetland primary school pupil tested positive for Covid-19. 

Whiteness Primary School’s parent council chairwoman Joanna Breeze made the comments after NHS Shetland announced the new case on Friday. 

The affected class group was sent home that day and public health teams were drafted in to identify contacts. 

It has since been confirmed that headteacher Rachel Colclough is among those self-isolating. 

Ms Breeze said Ms Colclough had written to parents on Sunday to explain the situation. 

The letter also confirmed the school had been deep cleaned and additional safety measures introduced. 

Ms Breeze said: “It was really good to receive that on Sunday and it explained really clearly what would be happening. Parents have been concerned but I know that a lot found that reassuring.

“Rachel is a good headteacher and her approach has been great.”