Man deemed ‘significant danger to public’ placed in custody by sheriff

A man who entered a woman’s home and performed a sex act in her bed has been remanded in custody after failing to co-operate with social workers.

Peter Hall, 24, of Ladies Drive in Lerwick, was warned he was potentially a “significant danger to the public” after he disturbed a bed and stole clothes and photographs from a Sandveien house in February.

The woman and her partner were in a neighbour’s house at the time. They dialled 999 to call the police after seeing Hall through a window in their own bedroom.

Inside the house kitchen cupboards and the fridge were left open, and items of the woman’s clothing were left lying on the bedroom floor. It emerged Hall had fled the house wearing one of the woman’s dresses.  Challenged later, he claimed the woman’s clothing was actually chef’s whites belonging to his mother.

Sentence had been deferred for reports, however Wednesday’s court heard a full report was not available – partly because Hall had failed to keep up with social workers.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Hall was unable to explain why he had carried out the offence, but was willing to co-operate with anyone who could help explain and deal with his behaviour.

Hall had earlier claimed somebody had spiked his drink with an ecstasy tablet, which could have explained his antics. However Mr Allan said he was no longer in a position to insist on that.

Mr Allan said Hall accepted there was a very real chance he was going to jail for the offence, but he urged Sheriff Graeme Napier to defer sentence until after a full report has been prepared.

“It’s my submission that’s not the complete report that you would require to deal with sentencing Mr Hall,” he said.

He added Hall had found it difficult to discuss his behaviour with female social workers.

“The nature of these offences is highly embarrassing for him. He has learning difficulties and finds it difficult to discuss openly and frankly his involvement in these offences.”

Sheriff Napier wondered if any learning problems had been diagnosed.

Mr Allan admitted he could not confirm that, although he understood Hall suffered from dyslexia.

Sheriff Napier told Hall: “One thing that’s very clear from the report, and from my own take on the background circumstances, is that you are potentially a significant danger to the public.

“What the social worker was trying to say was that she can’t see any option other than custody.”

Remanding him, the sheriff called for a social enquiry report as well as a psychological assessment. Hall will appear for sentence on 16th November.