Fine for man who punched two others in Lerwick bar

A 57-year-old man who assaulted two people at a Lerwick pub has been fined £640.

Jeffrey Goldsborough, of Bankside Road, Newcastle, admitted the offences when he appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Goldsborough, who had been working in Shetland at the time, assaulted the men on 19th May at the Douglas Arms on Commercial Road.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said that the first clash followed a day of drinking in which the man assaulted and Goldborough’s son “had basically been niggling at each other all day”.

When the man went to the toilets Goldsborough followed him, punching him and causing a cut to his face. The cut “didn’t require any form of medical intervention”, the fiscal added.

A second man then confronted Goldsborough about his actions and he too came to be on the receiving end of a punch to the head.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said that everybody involved had consumed a lot of alcohol and noted that the victim of the first assault had been “a nuisance” on the day in question.

Goldsborough, whose last conviction was around 20 years ago, was “disappointed” to have allowed himself to be in court again, Mr Allan said, adding that he “very much wishes to put this whole matter behind him”.

When Goldsborough saw the victim of the first assault the following day the pair shook hands and apologised to each other, Mr Allan added.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank decided to fine him £320 for each offence – a total of £640 – down from £400 each due to Goldsborough’s early plea.