Man who threatened dirty protest fined in court

A man who tried to defecate in a police van after assaulting his partner was fined £450 when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Christopher Fisher, 44, of Commercial Street, admitted striking the woman on the body and knocking her to the ground to her injury at Ladieside in Brae on 2nd August last year.

He also admitted fighting with two women as they tried to stop him in his assault. Once detained by police, he tried to carry out the “disgusting” act in the back of their van.

The court heard the two women were friends of the complainer, and had been concerned for her welfare.
Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said they “went for the accused to stop him assaulting his partner”, but it descended into a “general mêlée” and the police were called.

“He was affected by the alcohol he had been drinking and his behaviour was nothing short of disgusting. Placed in the back of the van he removed his trousers and attempted to defecate, threatening a dirty protest.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Fisher had patched things up with his partner since the offence had taken place.

He said Fisher, who only has the use of one eye, had sustained injuries to his one good eye in the struggle with the two women, and felt aggrieved his side of the argument had not been fairly dealt with.

Referring to Fisher’s activities in the police van, he said: “It’s not something he is comfortable with, and he is ashamed of it.

“He paid the price for it because he was kept in custody until 2pm the following day, and it’s unlikely that would have happened had he been more co-operative with the police.”

Sheriff Graeme Napier said the offence was “disgraceful behaviour”, but said he would deal with it by way of a monetary penalty.