Strongman Moar fined for assaulting man outside Posers
When local strongman Dhanni Moar saw a scuffle break out at a Lerwick nightclub he decided to intervene to assist the door staff.
However police arrested him and took him back to the station, where they found he was carrying a Kubotan – a short length of metal which is used in martial arts.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court today Moar, 26, admitted assaulting a drunken man outside Posers and holding him in a headlock on 29th October. He also pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon.
The court heard joiner Moar, who has held the title of Shetland’s strongest man on three separate occasions, sometimes worked as a door steward at Posers although this was later denied by the nightclub’s management who said he had never worked there.
But while on a night out he had spotted a man being refused entry by staff who were on duty. Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said a “scuffle” broke out and Moar became involved in order to help his on-duty colleagues.
“Police attended and when he was being searched at the police station an item was found that is commonly used by those exercising some disciplines of martial arts.”
Defence agent Gregor Kelly said Moar had a habit of losing his keys. The Kubotan was attached to a keyring that Moar was carrying.
Mr Kelly insisted the device had never been used and it was only meant for “keeping a tight reign” on his personal possessions. Moar, he said, was a “gentle giant”.
“This man is a sizeable man. He is a man capable of looking after himself. He has on three occasions held the title of Shetland’s strongest man. If he wanted to throw his weight about, he could very forcefully.”
He added Moar had been drinking and his “judgement was clouded”.
He said Moar had no convictions for violence and had been in employment since he left school.
“He is a gentle giant who certainly won’t be repeating these endeavours.”
Sheriff John Rafferty said it was unusual that possession of a weapon should lead to a sentence other than a jail term or community-based disposal. However he fined Moar £520 for the offence.
A Kubotan is a close-quarter, self-defence weapon developed by Takayuki Kubota, and is often used as a key-chain. It is usually around five inches long, and is slightly thicker – or the same size – as a marker pen.
