Pair appear in court after failed attempt to start new life in Doncaster
Two women who had travelled to Doncaster in an abortive attempt to start a new life appeared together from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.
Laura Nelson, 23, and Rachel Holmes, 29, formerly of Burgadale, Brae, had breached a probation order that was imposed after they admitted breaking into Mossbank Shop last year. Nelson had also stolen two bracelets from Clocktower Cards in July.
The court heard that Nelson, whose mother died when she was 11, has family in Doncaster and the pair had hoped that the family would be supportive, but that was not the case.
Another friend said they would take the two women in but when the pair fell into a “benefit black hole” between Doncaster and Lerwick that offer was withdrawn.
After some time on the streets Nelson and Holmes, who wanted to get back to Shetland to see her young son, did not know what to do except head back to Shetland.
By the time they got to Aberdeen they had run out of money and, aware there were warrants out for both of them, handed themselves in in Aberdeen.
The women had been on methadone while in Doncaster but that had run out and they said they were now “clean”. They had been in custody since Thursday and were both interested in drug aftercare and counselling.
Sheriff Graeme Napier commented on how well the women looked. He deferred sentence just over a week to get social inquiry reports, and allowing them their liberty, saying if they did not look as well as they did today he would know they were back on drugs.
