Pair jailed after admitting string of offences

A man was jailed for 10 months at Lerwick Sheriff Court today and his partner in crime received five months in prison after they pleaded guilty to a string of charges in Lerwick.

Mark Simon Rushby, 19, of Ladies Drive, Lerwick took part in a stealing spree along with Grant Huntington, 27, of Sandside, Mossbank, on 28th September, while both were under the influence of drugs.

Rushby and another man had also attacked a man at a house in Ladies Drive after they went looking for money to settle a debt, repeatedly punching him on the head and body and stealing a games console from the house.

Rushby admitted stealing items from DH Marine and tools and equipment from Jewson’s while on bail since 29th April. Huntington admitted stealing items from Scott Direct.

The police detained the pair in Ladies Drive shortly after the thefts and Huntington was found to have a lock-blade knife in his possession, which he also admitted. All the goods had been recovered and none were of any significant value.

According to procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie, Huntington “behaved in a way that’s become more usual with him in his dealings with the police: a thoroughly belligerent manner.”

The pair have been on remand since 28th October when they admitted breaching their community payback orders. Tommy Allan, defending Huntington and Liam MacAllister, for Rushby, both said that their clients had had a change of attitude since being remanded and had the chance to get over their drug-related problems.

Mr MacAllister said his client had “very little recollection of the events of the 28th September “as a result his consuming illicit substances, but he admitted his stupidity in “acting with Huntington in this adventure of stupidity.”

Sheriff Mark Thorley said that Rushby’s assault over a debt was “no minor matter”. After taking into account everything that had been said in court, there was a “balance to be struck between your (Huntington’s) interests and the interests of the general public.”

He imprisoned him for five months backdated to 28th October and revoked his community payback orders.

He told Rushby it was “unavoidable that a period of detention was imposed.” He imprisoned Rushby for a total of 10 months with a four-week concurrent sentence in relation to breach proceedings, the sentences also backdated to 29th October.