Drunk man locked up for contempt
A Polish man who turned up drunk at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday found himself locked up for contempt of court.
Remigiusz Pawlowski, 31, whose address was given as care of Allan’s Solicitors, Lerwick, created a disturbance in court while sitting in the public benches waiting for his case to be called. He was removed by police officers and shortly afterwards appeared in the dock in handcuffs.
Sheriff Graeme Napier asked Pawlowski, who works in the fish industry, if he could offer any explanation of his condition. Speaking through an interpreter, the answer was that he thought he was in good condition.
Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said it was difficult to take instructions from his client, and the sheriff ordered Pawlowski to come back the next day. He was locked up in police cells.
Pawlowski had been subject to the Sex Offenders Act and it was alleged that between 20th and 25th May he had failed to comply with the act’s conditions by not notifying police of his change of address. He was having to report daily to police.
Appearing from custody yesterday, Pawlowski apologised for his behaviour in court the previous day. Mr Allan said that Pawlowski’s offence had occurred because he had been evicted from his accommodation and had had nowhere to stay. He now had a “care of” address at Sandveien, which he had notified to police.
Sheriff Napier said justice had been served by Pawlowski being locked up, combined with the fact that he had been locked up prior to a court appearance on 28th May.
The sheriff admonished him, telling him he was no longer on bail and no longer had to report to the police every day, although he still had to comply with the Sex Offenders Act.
