Man who threw brick through front door warned he faces prison

A man was warned he could face a custodial sentence for smashing a front door window at a house in Lerwick’s Sandveien area, after a sheriff said he did not believe claims the attack was not premeditated.

Francis Muldoon, 55, of the town’s St Olaf Street, broke the double-glazed window with a brick in June. The worried householder, her partner and son were in the house at the time of the early morning incident.

They heard a thud of what appeared to be stones or a brick hitting the window. The police were called and Muldoon was caught after a short pursuit. Interviewed by officers, he adopted an “arrogant” attitude and denied his involvement.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court today, Muldoon’s defence agent Gregor Kelly said Muldoon, a joiner with the SIC, had not set out to commit the offence.

He said Muldoon, who had enjoyed a “hitherto unblemished record”, had been drinking at home with a friend before heading out for a walk round the Clickimin.

However sheriff Graeme Napier was unconvinced the vandalism was not pre-meditated.

“How would it take you past … Sandveien en-route back to St Olaf Street from the Clickimin?”

Deferring sentence until 13th January, he said: “One of the options available to me is a custodial sentence.

“In your case it would only be three months, because you have no previous record, but I take a very serious view of this matter because you clearly went out of your way to get to this house.”