Drunken assault and racial abuse at Tall Ships costs teenager £1,000

A drunken teenager who carried out an assault before racially abusing a man during the Tall Ships celebrations was left almost £1,000 out of pocket at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Danne Scott, 17, of the town’s Russell Crescent, placed a man in a headlock during a live music event to mark the celebrations on 22nd July.

He also grabbed a coloured man’s clothing and pulled him to the ground before calling him a “black b******”.

The court heard Scott’s victims were known to him, although there was no history of bad blood between them.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Scott had challenged the two after he thought they were looking at him.

He assaulted them “almost immediately”. Referring to his second victim, he shouted: “I’m going to kill that black b******”.

There was a strong police presence at the event and officers approached and restrained Scott.

“It is fortunate that neither complainer sustained any injury,” said Mr MacKenzie.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the apprentice plumber, who is due to start a study block at college in Elgin, was later taken to hospital by police because he was so drunk he was unfit to be detained.

He said Scott was aware vodka had a particularly bad affect on him.

Sheriff Graeme Napier was not best pleased to know Scott had been drinking at all, given his age. He was intrigued to know why vodka should have any worse affect on him than any other drink.

He told Scott: “I hope you are ashamed of your behaviour. There are far too many young men in Shetland who think abusing alcohol is just a way of life. It’s depressing and it continues to depress me.”

He fined Scott £480 and ordered him to pay £550 in compensation.

“Whatever you spent on drink that night it’s now cost you almost £1,000 more,” he said.