Honorary sheriff fines ‘drunken bully’ and warns domestic abuse is too regular

Too many cases of domestic abuse are taking place with alcohol usually a contributing factor, Lerwick Sheriff Court has heard.

Honorary sheriff Arnold Duncan has warned domestic offences are becoming too regular. Today he fined a “drunken bully” £600 after hearing the man had threatened violence to his partner and brandished his fist at her.

Laurence Jarmson spoiled his own 60th birthday celebrations on Friday night when he shouted and swore at her after returning to his Cunningsburgh home.

He admitted committing the offence when he appeared from custody this morning.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the circumstances had been an “unpleasant incident of domestic abuse”.

He said Jarmson, who works as a joiner for Shetland Amenity Trust, had been out drinking as part of his birthday celebrations.

Jarmson arranged to go home so that he could carry on drinking with his partner in the South Mainland. But he became abusive after his partner said she did not want to go out.

“That starts the trepidation and fear of what he’s going to do when he gets home because, the bottom line is, he’s simply a drunken bully,” said Mr MacKenzie.

Once home Jarmson began shouting at his partner, calling her a “f****** useless, silly b****”.

Defence agent Richard Donaldson said Jarmson had gone out for a few drinks to celebrate his 60th birthday.

He said that, by his own admission, Jarmson had drunk far too much.

Mr Donaldson insisted that Jarmson drank only on special occasions, and was not somebody who regularly attends pubs.

“He’s not someone who is in the habit of troubling the law.”

He insisted the comments made by Jarmson to his partner were “empty threats”.

Honorary sheriff Duncan told Jarmson: “Domestic situations such as this are coming to the court, and usually the whole thing is grounded in drink.”

Fining him he added: “I would urge you to try to behave yourself.”