Back in court 24 hours after being bailed

A Lerwick youth is remanded in custody after appearing at Lerwick Sheriff Court for the second consecutive day.

Lee Hamilton, who had been in court on Wednesday with his twin brother Drew after admitting setting a fire in St Clement’s Hall last October, was not long out on bail before becoming involved in a row with Claire Antonio later that night.

Hamilton, of Ladies Drive, and 20-year-old Antonio, of Grostane, appeared in the dock on Thursday accused of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by fighting with one another at a flat in St Olaf Street which ended with Hamilton kicking in the door of the dwelling.

The previous day both Hamiltons, who are 19, had admitted setting fire to a couch at St Clement’s Hall which caused severe damage. They were released on bail till sentencing on 6th January to allow for a criminal justice social enquiry report to be considered

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said that “it beggars belief that Hamilton is back in court today.”

He read out a litany of offences that had been committed by Hamilton since being bailed on 4th February. His bail had been continued on several occasions after appearing in court for a number of crimes.

Mr MacKenzie said that it would “make the court look stupid” if Hamilton was bailed again, given the number of warnings he had been given.

Tommy Allan, defending, said that there was nothing he could say about Hamilton’s record except that it was not particularly long and that his latest reason for being in court was not serious in the context of his other offences.

Honorary Sheriff Arnold Duncan ordered Hamilton to be remanded in custody until an appearance on 9th December, because of the likelihood of him re-offending if bailed again. Antonio’s case was continued without plea until 25th November.