Pair fined over ‘recreational thuggery’

Two men who carried out a string of weekend assaults and disturbances in what was described as “recreational thuggery” appeared in the dock today.

Welshman Daffydd Jones, 37, of Gordon Terrace, Bethesda in Bangor, was fined £1,000 after admitting seven charges at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

His co-accused, Benjamin Mahone, 27, of Highfield in Cleatormoor, Cumbria, was ordered to stump up £400 after playing his part in the drunken antics.

The two had gone out on Saturday to Captain Flints, where Jones had pushed a man into his chair and pinned him down. He shouted and swore, behaving in an abusive manner.

Jones also assaulted a woman, striking her on the face causing a cut lip.

Later, at the Harbour Chip Shop, he punched a man on the head, grabbing his victim by the throat and pinning him against a wall.
He shouted abuse there, as well, along with Mahone, who punched his victim on the head and knocked him to the ground.

The spree of violence continued at the Thule Bar, where Jones repeatedly punched a man on the head, shouting and swearing. The pair were arrested and kept in custody until today’s appearance before sheriff Philip Mann.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said all of the assaults were “wholly unprovoked”.

“It would not be unrealistic to characterise their behaviour as recreational thuggery,” he said.

He added the two were fussy about exactly who they picked on. “One common theme is they were very selective about their victims. They were either smaller, or very drunk, of significantly physically smaller than them.

“People on a night out should not have to contend with encountering the likes of these two.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Jones and Mahone had been working as joiners at Sullom Voe for the last six weeks, but had lost their jobs as a result of their exploits.

Neither of them had reason to remain in Shetland. Jones, he said, could not remember much of what went on, but had apologised.

Mr Allan said Jones had been “reckless” during the incident which led to the woman in Captain Flints suffering an injury. He had been trying to put on his jacket when the incident happened.

Mr Allan argued Mahone was in a better position, not least because he only appeared in two of the charges. Mahone, he said, had initially tried to break up the incident in the chip shop, but had become involved in it.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Jones: “I take a very dim view of this offending. You’ve got no right to come to Shetland and behave in this loutish manner. The good people of Shetland are entitled to go about their business without being set upon by what can only be described as a thug.”

He told Mahone: “The same remarks apply to you, although clearly you did not act in quite such a wild manner.”