Knife attack man jailed for three years

A former Bressay man who carried out an early-morning stabbing is beginning a prison sentence of over three years.

Scott Anderson, 23, whose address was given at Lerwick Sheriff Court as Aberdeen Prison, was today sentenced to 40 months imprisonment by sheriff Philip Mann.

Anderson attended his victim’s home in Pitt Lane, Lerwick, on 16th January. He had been drinking with two friends until the early hours, but at 5.30am said he was going to speak to the complainer. However, he took the knife before leaving his address.

There had been a history of bad feeling between Anderson and the complainer. The court had heard there was evidence Anderson had previously been threatened by his victim.

Sentence on Anderson had been deferred to allow the sheriff to consider whether a supervised release order might be appropriate when Anderson is eventually allowed back into the community.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said the order would benefit Anderson, adding it would offer him the support he needed. He admitted Anderson was facing a prison sentence from the start.

“The question is not to deal with whether he gets a custodial sentence or not, but to set out the terms of it,” he said.

Mr Allan said Anderson’s guilty plea was tendered on the basis that there had been provocation from his victim.

However, sheriff Mann highlighted that Anderson had been seen readying the knife at the top of the lane and putting it back in his pocket before he knocked on the door.

“I accept the plea was tendered on the basis there was provocation, but the provocation happened some time prior to the offence taking place,” the sheriff told Anderson.

“It is just marginal provocation because, in reality, there was no need for you whatsoever to go to your victim’s address armed with a knife. To that extent, provocation is a fairly minor aspect to this case.

“On approaching the complainer’s address you actually took the knife out, and you took the blade out of the knife, and put the knife back in your pocket in preparation for your conflict with the complainer.

“At the end of the day, you took the knife and I must regard the situation as being that you had intention to cause harm.”

Sheriff Mann added that Anderson’s background of drink and drugs meant he was “amply justified” in imposing a supervised release order.

The order will last for one year on Anderson’s release, during which time he must comply with any requests that he attend drugs and alcohol counselling. His sentence was back-dated to 18th January when he was first taken into custody.