Assault man avoids jail sentence

A man who spat in a woman’s face and then assaulted her male friend on Commercial Street was fined £500 at Lerwick Sheriff Court and ordered to carry out 80 hours community service.

Darren Francis John McCran, 22, of Norgaet, Lerwick, carried out the attack early on Saturday 3rd August last year near Posers nightclub, Lerwick Sheriff Court heard today.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie told the court McCran had been walking along the street when he shouted something at the pair. He then spat in the face of Danielle Sutherland after she had told him to shut up. When her companion, Andrew Jack, got to his feet, McCran then punched him to the face and knocked him unconscious. Luckily, Mr Jack suffered no serious injury.

Defending solicitor Tommy Allan said that McCran had reacted “badly” to the situation and took offence at what Ms Sutherland said. He had lashed out and then realised it was a stupid thing to do.

Shortly after the incident McCran had met the pair again outside the TSB bank and had apologised and shaken hands with Mr Jack. This had been followed by another apology when he saw the victim again a couple of weeks later.

According to Mr Allan, there was “no further blame between them” and McCran was ashamed of his “idiotic” actions.

However Sheriff Philip Mann told McCran that his record suggested he had an anger management problem – he had been convicted of assault in 2011 and breach of the peace the following year. The sheriff said that he had been considering a custodial sentence but decided to fine McCran £500 instead and imposed a community pay back order of 80 hours work to be completed within three months.

“If you breach that order you can be called back to court and you could get a custodial sentence of up to three months,” Sheriff Mann warned.