Lerwick ‘savage’ will stay locked up
A man who ripped off his partner’s T-shirt at a late night party was remanded in custody when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday.
Iain Tulloch, 39, of Ladies Drive, Lerwick, admitted ripping the woman’s clothing off and grabbing her by the shoulders in the bathroom of his home on Saturday night.
The court heard Tulloch had gone into the bathroom where his partner was talking to two teenagers who had been attending the drunken gathering.
Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Tulloch ripped the woman’s T-shirt and grabbed her before telling the youngsters to leave.
The police were contacted, and officers arrived at the house to find Tulloch “behaving like a savage, shouting and swearing and making threats to the police officers”, Mr MacKenzie said.
He was detained, but repeatedly kicked and spat as officers took him in the back of a police van to the station.
Once the cage of the van was opened, he kicked out at officers as they struggled to remove him.
In the end, the police were forced to use a CS spray to stop his onslaught against them.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said Tulloch had had a lot to drink on the night. He had found it difficult to remember things, and believed he may have taken Valium involuntarily.
“He has pled guilty at the first opportunity,” Mr Allan said. “There is no good reason for his behaviour in respect of charges two and three.”
Sheriff Graeme Napier replied that there was presumably no good reason for Tulloch’s behaviour in the first charge either.
“It would not be unreasonable to suggest their relationship has not always been a smooth one,” Mr Allan said.
He added Tulloch was due to appear in court relation to other offences on 20th May, at the end of which he is likely to receive a custodial sentence.
He asked the sheriff to grant Tulloch his liberty until then, as one of his grandmothers had recently died and the remaining one had taken ill.
Mr Allan said Tulloch had also learned his young son was soon to be adopted, which made him fear he may not see him again until after he turned 16.
Sheriff Napier said he would defer sentence until 20th May, but Tulloch would be remanded in custody in the meantime.
