Man fined over ‘nasty beating’

A man launched a violent assault after finding the woman he believed he was having a relationship with in a “compromising position” with another man.

Samuel Scott, 25, of Ladies Drive administered a “nasty beating” against the man after finding the two at an address in Lerwick’s Burgh Road.

His victim was taken to hospital suffering from severe bruising. Scott was taken into custody after the police were called.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court today unemployed Scott was left £450 out of pocket after pleading guilty to the assault to injury in the early hours of Sunday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said there was disagreement between Scott and the woman about where they stood with each other. Scott believed he was in a relationship with the woman, although she claimed that was “not the case at all”.

He said Scott’s victim had gone home with the woman after a night out.

“The accused entered the premises and found them together in a compromising position, although they were entitled to be in that situation,” Mr MacKenzie said.

“The complainer was taken to hospital suffering from severe bruising. It would appear at the moment there are no fractures, but he [Scott] gave out a nasty beating.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Scott’s “version” was that he had been in a relationship with the woman for five to six months. The relationship had broken down, but there was regular contact between the two on a daily basis.

“It may well be he was misinterpreting the signals he was being given by her. It remains his position he was getting very mixed messages when at a nightclub earlier with her,” Mr Allan told the court.

“Thereafter he tried but was unable to contact her. He went to the house and what he saw was something that upset him greatly, and he lost his temper. But none of what’s been said is considered by him to be any sort of justification.”

The court heard Scott had a previously unblemished record, but he had been in custody since the early hours of Sunday. He had co-operated with police.

Sheriff Philip Mann fined Scott £200 and ordered he pay an additional £250 in compensation to his victim.

He told him: “You’ve come to an age where you clearly know right from wrong, and where you should have grown up by now.

“I can understand your feelings may have been heightened because of the impression that may have been given, perhaps, by this lady. But you can’t go round beating people up. You’ve got to be adult enough and know that, if a relationship is finished, then that is what it is.”