Lerwick man jailed for brutal attack on partner’s sister

A Lerwick man who attacked his partner’s sister, repeatedly punching and stamping on her face, was jailed for 16 months at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Stephen Gair, 30, of Russell Crescent, continued the brutal assault as his victim lay helpless on the floor of the house in Gilbertson Road on 13th December last year. When police officers tried to gain access they had to use CS gas spray to ward him off after he struggled with them.

The woman needed surgery to reconstruct her nose and suffered severe bruising all over her head and body.

Gair had attacked her after she stuck up for her sister who Gair was arguing with after the three had spent a night out together. He is no longer with his partner.

He pled guilty at a previous appearance last month and was returning on Wednesday to hear the outcome of inquiries into his background and mental health. Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client could not remember what had happened that night and could not explain his behaviour.

Asked by Sheriff Graeme Napier why Gair had shown little remorse or empathy for his victim, Mr Allan said he had been concentrating on sorting out his own behaviour which had been “completely off the rails” since the offence. He had struggled to cope with the sudden death of his father a few weeks later and had been unable to think rationally. His doctor’s advice had been that he should sort himself out first before he would be able to come to terms with what he had done.

Mr Allan said his client had told him he deserved to go to prison for his terrible crime which not even his worst enemy had merited. Since the assault he had been almost teetotal.

The sheriff said the social inquiry report had come to the curious conclusion that Gair was at low risk of serious violence but of high risk to women. Earlier he said it was interesting that in his interviews with social workers he had referred to various people as “prostitutes”.

He has a previous conviction for twice assaulting a man in 2002.

On release from his 16-month jail sentence Gair will be placed on a supervised release order with social workers for eight months.