Waas man “delighted” after documentary wins national award

A documentary which showcases a heartwarming relationship between an otter and West Side man has won a prestigious national award.

Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story won the Science and Natural World award at the Royal Television Society Awards at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Tuesday.

The film first aired on National Geographic on 15th November – following the life of a wild otter in need of help when it washes up on a jetty.

Billy Mail, his wife Susan, and their devoted sheepdog Jade find themselves with a unique new member of their family.

When Molly first arrives at the Mail residence, Billy and Susan take it upon themselves to care for the ill otter, providing Billy with a new sense of purpose.

The couple were presented with the award by comedian and actor Tom Allen who regularly appears on television in programmes such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie To You and A League Of Their Own.

Mr Mail was left “surprised” but “delighted” over their win.

“Charlie [Hamilton James] set out to make a film that was a bit of a fairytale and now we’re living the fairytale and enjoying the journey,” he told The Shetland Times.

“I’ll aye joost be a crofters boy fae Waas though.”

Hospital accepts ‘essential visitors only’ amid surge in respiratory illnesses 

Visitor restrictions have been introduced at the Gilbert Bain Hospital to keep staff and patients safe amid a surge in respiratory illnesses in the community.

POLL: Are councillors’ pay rises  justified if it means more stand for election? 

Councillors could be in line for hefty pay rises next week – with the leader’s remuneration recommended to top £50,000.

In this week’s Shetland Times

In today’s (Friday, 21st March) edition of The Shetland Times:

• Attackers who left victim scarred for life are jailed.

• EXCLUSIVE: Performer raises awareness of agonising condition.

• EXCLUSIVE: SIC initiative seeks to grow teaching workforce.

• Councillors set to vote on hefty pay rise.

• Fire festivals are held in the sunshine.

• SPORT: Women’s football team to make debut cup appearance.

Folk festival secures £10,000 sponsorship

Shetland Stays is the new headline sponsor for the Shetland Folk Festival after giving the largest private donation worth £10,000.

The newly-launched accommodation management service is dedicated to enhancing the visitor
experience in the isles.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone for the festival.

Folk festival committee member Louise Jamieson welcomed the new partnership with open arms.

Ms Jamieson said it was “amazing” the company had given the largest ever private donation to the festival.

“This allows us to focus on delivering yet another fantastic year of music and culture for Shetland,” she said.

Director for Shetland Stays Emily Smith said the sponsorship comes in a move to boost the “exciting cultural events” in the isles and ensure they are well supported.

“The impact of events like the Shetland Folk Festival on the local economy and tourism sector cannot be
underestimated,” Ms Smith said.

She added that she was “thrilled” to back an event which “brings so much talent” to the isles as well as tourism.

Attackers jailed for vicious assault

Two attackers who scarred their vicim for life tried to flee a crime scene by using a fake name at an airport and hiding in a car boot at a ferry terminal, a court heard. 

Rhys Chan,33, and Tyler Kidd,30, tried to get off Shetland in a hurry after subjecting Jordan Palmer to a horrifying assault in Lerwick on 22nd November 2023. 

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the pair and their accomplice Kyle Swannie,28, of Shetland, were responsible for an attack in which an axe and a knife were used on Mr Palmer. 

Judge Lord Young heard how the attack left Mr Palmer scarred for life. But Chan and Kidd, both of Leicester, tried to avoid detection for the assault. 

The court heard how Chan turned up at the island’s Sumburgh Airport the day after committing the attack and tried to travel using the name “Daniel Robinson”. 

Meanwhile, Kidd travelled to Lerwick ferry terminal on 29th November in the boot of a vehicle. 

Police Scotland officers foiled the escape attempts and brought the pair to justice. 

Today (Wednesday), the two English crooks appeared alongside Swannie for sentencing. The three men pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Palmer to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Chan and Kidd also each admitted to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by trying to get off Shetland. Kidd also pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Palmer on an earlier occasion at the Trench Bar in Lerwick on 17th September 2023. 

Lord Young handed Chan and Kidd four year sentences for their crimes. Swannie was given three years for his actions. 

He told Chan: “Your attack left lasting psychological injuries and scars on your victims.”

The trio originally pleaded guilty to their crimes at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow in January 2025. The hearing had been continued until Wednesday for Crown lawyers to tell the court of the circumstances surrounding the attacks on Mr Palmer. 

Prosecutor Scott McKenzie told the court that Kidd first assaulted Mr Palmer at about 1am outside the Trench bar in Lerwick.

The court heard how this happened after Mr Palmer and Mr Kidd had spent the evening drinking there and became involved in an argument with each other. 

The court heard on 22nd November 2023, Mr Palmer received a phone call from a “friend” at around midnight. His pal asked him to come and meet him for a “chat” in his car at a car park in Lerwick.

Mr McKenzie said that when Mr Palmer went to see his acquaintance, he got into the back seat of his car only to find a masked man was sitting beside him. 

Mr McKenzie added: “At the same time another man got into the front passenger seat of the car. Both these males were dressed in black and had their faces covered by wearing balaclavas.”

Mr McKenzie said these males were Chan and Kidd. 

He added: “As Tyler Kidd got in, Jordan Palmer could see that he was holding what Jordan Palmer described as a miniature axe. 

“He struck Jordan Palmer with it on the head. 

“He then instructed Chan to ‘chef him up’ whereupon Chan produced and started brandishing a large knife – this was a black handled kitchen knife. 

“Thinking he was going to be stabbed, Jordan Palmer grabbed the knife by the blade cutting his finger in the process. 

“At that point Tyler Kidd struck him again with the axe hitting him on the cheek. Jordan Palmer then managed to get out of the car and began to flee. 

“As he was getting out of the car however, Chan stabbed him twice piercing each buttock.”

The court heard that Swannie was waiting outside and started chasing Mr Palmer as he tried to escape the scene. He grabbed hold of Mr Palmer’s t shirt and scratched the right side of his chest and neck. 

Meanwhile, on November 23, security staff at Sumburgh Airport had their attention drawn to a man who was behaving oddly in the departure lounge. 

The court heard that this man was Chan and had checked in as Daniel Robinson and was making attempts to avoid recognition. The police were called and he was arrested.

Mr McKenzie said that Kidd was arrested on 29th November after police received intelligence he was trying to get off Shetland by hiding in a car boot. 

Mr McKenzie said: “At about 16.50 hours that day, having been alerted to the presence of that car at the terminal, they traced the car. 

“The boot was opened and Tyler Kidd was seen underneath clothing and luggage. At 1655 hours, he was cautioned and told that he was under arrest.”

Defence counsels for the accused men told the court that their clients accepted responsibility for their actions and accepted prison was inevitable. 

SSE gives diversion warning as road closure to be in effect on Wednesday

Drivers have been warned of a diversion as road works take place from tomorrow (Wednesday) on the B9075 between Setters Corner and the Sandwater Junction.

The road will be closed from 7pm and will re-open at 7am the following morning.

A temporary diversion will be in place, with signs, via Stromfirth.

The road will be closed while energy giant SSE removes equipment from the area.

In a statement it said: “Whilst we expect the impact to be minimal, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank all road users for their understanding and cooperation – and apologise for any inconvenience that this temporary closure may cause.”