Scalloway Meat Co announce ‘changes’ due to recent thefts

Scalloway Meat Co is closing off its upstairs department due to a “recent bout of theft” in its toy shop.

The convenience store wrote on its Facebook page: “Due to a recent bout of theft in the toy shop we’ve had to take the decision to implement the following changes to our upstairs department.

“The stairs will be closed off in the evenings. Any adults wanting to go up just let a member of staff know who will be happy to allow you to do so.

“Any bairns wanting to go up will only be allowed to do so if a member of staff is available to go up with you.”

The post added the store was “saddened” to have to take these measures, but it needs to nip this sort of behaviour “in the bud”. 

RTS pleas made by isles politicians

Isles politicians are calling for more to be done to protect households before the impending Radio Teleswitch (RTS) changeover next month.

Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart will today (Tuesday) raise the concern in the Scottish parliament.

While Isles MP Alistair Carmichael called on the UK government to step in should energy suppliers fail to replace the outdated RTS meters by the 30th June deadline.

According to the latest figures, almost 4,500 homes in Shetland were yet to see engineers upgrade their meters

“This shutdown could be a disaster for households across Scotland,” Ms Wishart said.

There was the potential for “massive disruption,” according to the MSP.

She added companies had “failed” to replace the meters for customers at the “required pace”.

To read more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Shetland Times or subscribe for a digital edition.

U-turn made over closure of Yell post office

There has been a U-turn over plans to close the post office in Burravoe.

Earlier this week, Post Office Ltd said it was not looking to replace the branch once Burravoe’s postmistress steps down from the role.

However, the company confirmed this afternoon it was reversing this decision.

“With the retirement of the long-serving postmistress in Burravoe in July, we have now agreed to advertise the vacancy to try to maintain Post Office services in this remote community.

“We are aware that there is a new shop opening in Burravoe and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the business opportunity with them or anyone else.”

The Post Office added the vacancy in Burravoe would soon be advertised here.

Son republishes late father’s Papa Stour book

An author’s lifelong passion for preserving Papa Stour’s rich heritage has been revitalised in a new edition – complete with colour photos and a hand-drawn map.

Emergency services respond to sick diver

Emergency services have responded to an incident in the Bluemull Sound.

Coastguard said a diver was in distress and may need to be treated for decompression sickness.

An ambulance is currently at the scene alongside, coastguard and a R900 helicopter from Sumburgh.

It is understood the diver may be taken to Aberdeen for treatment.

Labour MSP announces decision to stand down

List MSP Rhoda Grant has announced her intention to stand down from her seat at next year’s Holyrood election.

The Labour politician first became a member of the Scottish parliament upon its establishment in 1999 and has served in five of the six terms since then.

Speaking about her decision, Mrs Grant said it was “time to make way for others”.

“I have loved representing my region alongside people, too many to mention, who have worked with me, challenged me and supported me,” she said.

“Unfortunately, after thinking long and hard about the demands of this role, I do not feel I can continue to give the time and commitment required to do it justice and therefore hand on the baton to others and will not stand at the next Scottish parliament elections.”

As an MSP, Mrs Grant has served on a number of cross-party groups, including crofting and co-convening groups on human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. As a result of this she was invited to speak at a UN event at the 67^th session of the commission on the status of women in New York.

Her Member’ Bill on domestic abuse was adopted and became an act in April 2011 which made it an offence to engage in an abusive course of conduct against a current or ex-partner and she has served as the Labour spokeswoman on a number of areas, including rural and islands; women’s equalities; justice and finance.

Mrs Grant is the second MSP who represent Shetland to step back ahead of the next elections. Her announcement comes weeks after Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart made the same decision.

Learner driver ordered to pay hefty fine and banned from driving

A learner driver was fined hundreds of pounds and handed a six-month ban for parking her car without her L-plates on display.

Stacey Ryan, 29, had been at the Gilbert Bain Hospital when she realised her car had rolled out of its parking space.

She went to move it back – but by this time the police had arrived and noted she had no insurance and only a provisional licence.

The mother-of-two pleaded guilty to the charges when she appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court today (Wednesday).

Defence agent Tommy Allan told the court that a friend of Ryan had driven her to the hospital for an appointment on 17th September, 2024, relating to her pregnancy.

The friend also intended to drive Ryan back to her Sandness home.

However, the friend had left to go elsewhere until Ryan’s appointment was over.

During this time, the court heard, staff at the hospital became aware of a vehicle causing disruption in the car park and called the police.

Ryan left the hospital and saw her car had rolled out of the space.

She went to move it back – but by this time the police had arrived.

Sheriff David Harvey noted Ryan had been “here before” as she had already accrued six penalty points on her licence.

He ordered Ryan to pay a £400 fine and endorsed her licence with a further eight penalty points.

As a result, Ryan has been banned from holding a driver’s licence for six months.

Hero cops save life with quick thinking actions

Hero cops saved a life using first aid and the anti-overdose drug Naloxone.

Sandwick man fined after confrontation with son at pier

A Sandwick man who drove carelessly along pier to prevent his son from leaving after a confrontation has been fined £720.

Ronald Young, 59, also had five points added to his licence after he admitted the offence, which happened at Blacksness Pier, Scalloway, on 2nd March last year.

The court heard he drove along the pier at speed to block his son Sam Young, who was in a pickup truck.

However, a separate allegation that the accused had assaulted his son was found to be not proven, following last Thursday’s trial at Lerwick Sheriff Court.

The trial featured evidence from two witnesses and a video.

But Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald was unable to conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Young was guilty.

The court was told the complainer had finished working on his boat when he had got into his truck and became aware his father was at the pier.

Giving evidence remotely, the complainer said he had a difficult relationship with his father and had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with him.

He said his father shouted at him and threw punches before he blacked out and injured his head.

Procurator fiscal Duncan MacKenzie told the court the complainer received six stitches for a 10cm cut on the side of his head.

Defence agent Tommy Allan suggested his client had gone to the pier to check on his son’s wellbeing, as he had not responded to messages from earlier in the week,

The complainer agreed that was possible – but also said his father had been listening to “lies” that claimed he was involved in drugs.

Mr Allan also said it was “convenient” the complainer had no memory of the incident.

In Ronald Young’s account to the police, he claimed his son “launched” to attack him.

Video evidence taken from a passing fishing boat, showed the two men in a verbal exchange.

Mr MacKenzie claimed the video showed Ronald Young throwing a punch.

But Sheriff MacDonald suggested it was the younger man “who made the move” before the accused backed away.

It was agreed the altercation had already begun before the video had started recording.

A second witness – a friend of the complainer – said he noticed the pair in an argument from across the pier and he rushed over to split them up.

The witness claimed Ronald Young had been the aggressor but accepted both men had been “flapping” their arms at each other.

When the witness arrived, the father and son had stopped and the older man got in his car and left.

The witness noticed the complainer had blood on his head and was going to take him to hospital for treatment.

But then Ronald Young returned  – driving at speed in his car and blocked his son’s truck from leaving the pier.

The witness said the accused had come back to apologise but Mr Allan suggested his client was returning to say “it wasn’t his fault” – as was told in a statement to police.

Sheriff MacDonald told the accused it was clear he had gone to the pier for a “confrontation”.

But she also saw “inconsistencies” in the Crown’s argument and evidence.

She gave a verdict of not proven.

“I think you were ashamed by what happened that day,” Sheriff MacDonald said.