Assault man praised for turning his life around

A man who carried out an assault at a country dance in Yell last year was commended for his positive change in attitude when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today.

But Michael Goodlad, 20, of Kveldsro Gardens in the town was still fined £200 for punching his victim on the head and injuring him at Cullivoe Pier in July last year.

The court heard Goodlad had lashed out after he mistakenly thought he had been assaulted first by his victim.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the offence happened when Goodlad appeared to be going through a phase of immaturity which he now appeared to be coming out of.

He said Goodlad had displayed new-found maturity by confirming that there was no intent on his victim’s part to assault him.

“Mr Goodlad, in his drinking, was an angry young man who saw threat in everything. But he’s not come to my attention for a while,” he said.

Defence agent Tommy Allan endorsed what had been said about Goodlad’s progress. He added his client was working and had been given a new house in a different part of town.

“Things have turned around quite dramatically and he’s working hard,” he said.

Sheriff Philip Mann said he hoped he would not see Goodlad in court again.

“I’m prepared to proceed on the basis that you mistakenly thought that someone had deliberately assaulted you, and that may have provided you with reasonable grounds for taking the view there was provocation, although that turns out not to be the case.”