Couper told to behave

An offender who has been “a pain in the side” of the court has been allowed his liberty after a sheriff ruled he should be trusted to keep his nose clean.

Twenty-two year-old Trevor Couper was ordered to stay out of Lerwick when he was released on bail yesterday to an address in Voe. He admitted two charges of stealing alcopops from the Tesco supermarket on 21st.

Couper also pleaded guilty to brandishing a bottle and swearing at an address in Lerwick’s St Magnus Street.

The offences happened on 21st August when Couper was on bail.

He had been held on remand since his initial court appearance in relation to the matter.

But sheriff Philip Mann said a letter put forward by Couper showed he was intelligent – although he tempered that by insisting he had read Couper’s letters before.

“It’s clear to me from the letter you’ve written – this is not the first letter I’ve received from you – that you are an intelligent person, and it’s just such a shame you can’t see for yourself what other people see,” he told Couper.

“It may be you’ve realised drink is the big problem in your life, but I think I’ve probably seen that before. You are intelligent, and you know what buttons to press. I have to approach your letter with a degree of care.

“Having said that you are a young man and I am prepared, as I would be with every young person, to give you an opportunity.”

He deferred sentence until 29th October, when Couper is due to appear on other matters.
However, he ordered Couper abide by a curfew seven days a week, and to stay away from the town – except for court appearances or to attend appointments with his solicitor.

“You’ve been a pain in the side of this court for some considerable time. I’d hope this time you really are going to grow up and start acting like a reasonable human being.

“If you’d just keep off the drink things would be so much better for you and everybody else.”