Teenager stole cash from friend and sister to feed drug habit, court told

A teenager who stole cash from his friend and his sister to feed his “aggressive heroin habit” appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Andrew Steven Cumming, 19, of Sandside in Mossbank, took around £20 along with two keys from his friend’s flat in the town’s Union Street on Sunday.

He also helped himself to approximately £9 in cash from his sister’s South Lochside address on the same day.

He was arrested and taken into custody before his appearance in front of Honorary Sheriff Arnold Duncan.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Cumming had been driven to commit the offences because of his growing drugs problem.

“The motivating factor was not so much dishonesty as a way of acquiring the funds for his developing and aggressive heroin habit,” he said. “He made a full admission to police that the money was for that purpose.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Cumming had been seen by the drugs project and was waiting to be prescribed Suboxone – a medication given to problem drug users. Failing that, he hoped to gain an admission to the Papa Stour project.

“He would make no secret of the fact his heroin habit has spiralled out of control, and that is what is behind this,” he said.

Honorary Sheriff Duncan deferred sentence for reports until 5th May. Cumming was released on bail until then.

Meanwhile, a man who assaulted his partner at their home in Lerwick was fined £400 when he appeared on Tuesday.

Stephen Dounton, 32, of Sandveien, punched the woman on the head at the Tesco car park on Saturday. He assaulted her again at a house in the nearby housing estate.

The court heard Dounton’s partner had indicated she wanted him to return to the house.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Dounton had been concerned by the amount his partner, who suffered no injury, had been drinking.

Honorary Sheriff Duncan fined him £200 on each charge.