Police struggle man is given unpaid work
A man who struggled violently with police officers after damaging a car has been spared prison and given a year to complete 300 hours of unpaid work.
Craig Slater, address given as Hoofields, previously admitted the offences that took place on 9th October.
Slater got drunk after losing his job and went on to kick and damage a car at North Lochside while behaving in a threatening and aggressive manner, shouting and swearing.
A violent struggle with three police officers followed in the North Road before Slater lashed out in the back of the police van, kicking and damaging it.
Defence agent Tommy Allan told Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday that Slater, aged 33, did not drink often, but seemed to have problems when he did drink and the consumption of alcohol lay behind his problems.
Sheriff Philip Mann said that he viewd the offences very seriously, especially in light of Slater’s criminal record. The Sheriff said that he had seldom seen a social work report “as negative” as Slater’s. “It’s almost as though social worker is saying there’s nothing to do but send this guy to court,” he added.
But the Sheriff decided to give Slater another chance and ordered him to complete 300 hours of unpaid work under supervision, to be completed within a year. Slater was on the point of taking up a job in central Scotland, so the community payback order would be dealt with by the appropriate court. The sheriff warned Slater that if he did not get a positive report, he would be considering a custodial sentence.
