Man trashed house after missing football

A drunken man punched holes in the walls of his home and became aggressive towards his partner when he missed a football match on the television.

John Hart, 32, of Park Wynd in Sandwick lashed out after he was sent home from a social club where he had gone to watch the game.

He “turned his aggression” on his partner and backed her up against a living room wall and punched a hole in it beside her head.

Hart then “trashed” the living room, throwing things in his rage and terrifying his partner.

She tried to leave the room, but Hart followed her, punching walls as he went on his way.

He left the house, slamming a door and causing a glass panel to shatter. He returned and punched a hole in the glass, causing his hand to bleed.

His partner hid in the toilet, holding the door shut with her feet as he repeatedly punched the door, trying to get in. She contacted a friend, who attended and saw that the house had been trashed, with blood all over it.

They both tried to calm Hart down and patch up his wounded hand, but he remained aggressive. Hart himself phoned 999 before leaving the house. Police attended and found him walking a short distance away, with his hand still bleeding.

An ambulance was called and Hart was taken to hospital. But he refused treatment and discharged himself. He was then arrested and taken to the police station.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court today Hart admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, throwing items around his home and punching holes in internal walls as well as smashing a glazed door.

He also admitted a further charge of shouting and swearing at the police station, repeatedly banging on a cell door and smearing blood all over the walls and floor.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said it had been an “unpleasant incident fuelled by alcohol”.

He said Hart and his partner were forced to leave the social club, where they had gone to see the game, because of Hart’s drunkenness.

When they arrived home Hart fell asleep but woke up half an hour later angry that he had missed the match.

The fiscal said Hart’s behaviour had continued after his arrest.

“He was whining about his hand. He had been belligerent and discharged himself from hospital, without treatment, smearing blood on the floor and all over the cell.”

He added Hart was then “forcibly removed” and taken to hospital again, where he received several stitches to his hand.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Hart: “This was a very serious incident of domestic abuse, of which the courts are bound to take seriously.”

Calling for a social work report, he said he would leave “all options open”.

The case against Hart was adjourned until 8th July. He was released on bail.