Man who robbed his mother of her handbag jailed for 13 months

A man who admitted a string of offences, including robbing his mother of her handbag, was jailed for 13 months at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Scott Anderson, 19, of Kirkabister in Bressay, was imprisoned after appearing for sentence before Sheriff Graeme Napier.

He appeared in the dock last month, however sentence was deferred until this week for the preparation of reports.

Anderson admitted robbing his mother of her handbag at South Road in Lerwick on 11th September last year.

He also pled guilty to kicking and smashing the windscreen of a moving car he was travelling as a passenger in on Oversund Road and South Road on the same day, breaching his bail conditions.

He created a disturbance at the Shetland Museum – also on 11th September – by acting in a threatening manner and demanding money from people.

On 27th November he was discovered in possession of cocaine at the Holmsgarth ferry terminal, while on 29th April this year he used an unregistered motorbike without insurance at Mail in Bressay – an offence which saw him receive a six month driving ban.

Anderson stole a bicycle from Cairnfield Road on 12th May, and acted with another a week later when he forced open a car at the Hillhead in Lerwick and stole £1,000.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Anderson had hoped that he might be suitable for a community service order or a tag, but now realised that was “unrealistic”. “What he would hope for is that the decks can be cleared of all of these matters today,” said Mr Allan.

He added Anderson was in “good shape” and “completely clean” from drugs. “He seems committed to putting this behind him.”

Mr Allan said he recognised a “balance” needed to be struck between punishing Anderson and offering him full rehabilitation.

He said the social inquiry report had pointed out Anderson “still enjoys the support of his mother and his girlfriend”, both of whom were in court.

Sheriff Napier told Anderson he had no option but to give him a custodial sentence. “You were given various opportunities to deal with this in the community, but you failed to take advantage of them,” he said.

“You’re being punished today for the original offences, and not for failing to take advantage of the original opportunities that were made available to you.”