Teenager accused of brandishing wood detained

A man who is accused of brandishing a length of wood and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in a Lerwick Street on Saturday, whilst on bail, has been remanded in custody.

Lee Hamilton, 19, of St Olaf Street, was charged with having an “offensive weapon” – a length of wood – and of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner and brandishing the weapon in Market Street. He is then said to have fled from police officers in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

Tommy Allan, defending, asked for Hamilton to be bailed pending the resolution of another matter “waiting in the wings”, which might make a difference to the latest charges he was facing.

But procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie opposed the move saying that 75 per cent of the teenager’s previous convictions had been committed while Hamilton was on bail on other charges, and that he had one conviction of failure to appear, and that a time had to come when he was detained.

Sheriff Philip Mann said that he had been reluctant to grant Hamilton bail when he appeared on 4th February and was not going to give him bail this time. Hamilton was remanded in custody having made no plea or declaration and will appear in court again on 5th August.

• Comprehensive coverage of the sheriff court in Friday’s Shetland Times.