Drunk former soldier assaulted woman after speaking of killings

An ex-soldier who assaulted a woman after making a drunken nuisance of himself in Scalloway’s British Legion was warned to stay out of trouble when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

Graeme Mcdonald, 45, of Hogalee in Scalloway, admitted being aggressive and threatening on 17th December and assaulting a woman in the village, repeatedly pushing her on the body.

The court heard Mcdonald displayed “a fairly pathetic bravado” about the number of people he claimed he had killed during his 23 years of service in the army – a career which saw him serve in Kosovo, Iraq, the Gulf and Northern Ireland. He could still yet be called up as a reserve.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said Mcdonald’s wife had tried to distract him from that topic, but he was “intent” on trying to impress people with it.

His behaviour deteriorated to the extent he was refused service at the bar. He did not react well to that and blamed his wife, shouting “explicit” abuse at her.  

“It’s difficult to imagine language and content which could be any more demeaning,” said Mr MacKenzie.

A woman tried to calm things down, and Mcdonald assaulted her.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Mcdonald was ashamed of his behaviour. He said Mcdonald had suffered from combat stress after his years in the army.

Mcdonald had since sought help to address his problems.

Sheriff Graeme Napier told Mcdonald: “This is clearly not just a standard case of drunk and aggressive behaviour, but whatever the background people should not be subject to that type of behaviour.”

He deferred sentence until 20th June for Mcdonald to prove he can be of good behaviour and to provide an up-date on his referrals.