Probation order for ‘out of control’ teenager

A 16 year old who has recently come to the attention of the police was placed on probation at Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday.

Trevor Couper, of Cairnfield Road, Lerwick, was said by procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie to be outwith the control of his parents, acquiring a drink problem and on the path to self-destruction.

Couper pleaded guilty to shouting, swearing and breaching the peace, assaulting another man by slapping him on the body and butting him on the head and to kicking a car, denting and scratching it, all in Commercial Street on 19th February.

He also admitted fighting with another person in Commercial Street, shouting and swearing and breaching the peace on 21st March, and to fighting with three men in Ladies Drive on 3rd April.

Sheriff Graeme Napier said the offences were drink related. He said: “Would it be naive to tell Couper he is too young to be drinking, or is that not the Shetland way?”

The sheriff said Couper was a good performer academically and was going to start at Support Training. He was already having alcohol counselling and his social worker said he had performed well in the group and argued against probation.

But the sheriff said Couper’s offences had not been a one-off and put him on probation for six months, warning him not to assume because he was young he would not end up in detention.