Young man in court in connection with pit bull attacks

The 17-year-old owner of a “dangerously out of control” pit bull terrier faced four charges at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Shaun Smith of Lerwick’s Ladies Drive had sentence deferred on two charges and a trial date set for the other two.

Smith pleaded guilty to his dog entering a garden in the town’s Cheyne Crescent on 10th July and attacking a man and a springer spaniel, injuring both.

He was also charged with not complying with a dog control notice when on 28th July at Da Vadill, Lerwick, his dog was not muzzled and was not fitted with an electronic transponder.

Smith admitted that the dog was not muzzled but his plea of not guilty to the transponder charge was not accepted.

Smith further pleaded not guilty to pursuing a man, unclipping the dog’s lead and pushing the dog towards the man at Da Vadill on 28th July. This was not accepted.

However Smith did admit that on 29th July at Ladies Drive he resisted, obstructed, molested and hindered two police constables, ran away and locked himself in a room, exerting pressure on the door so that officers could not open it.

The offences were committed when Smith was on bail.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said the dog had now been destroyed, but Sheriff Graeme Napier said that did not alter the fact that Smith, who is currently subject to supervision, probation and a curfew for previous offences, had breached his bail conditions.

Smith will appear in court again in October and bail was continued.