Rigger threatened to rape police officer’s wife and daughter

A 20-year-old burglar who threatened to rape a police officer’s wife and daughter has been told to “face what he’s done” and return to Shetland to serve his sentence.

Charlie Forsyth was unable to attend Lerwick Sheriff Court today (Wednesday) because he was working on £330 a day in Senegal.

But after the court heard his “prolonged and sustained” pattern of threatening behaviour, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank requested he return for sentencing after reports were prepared.

Procurator Fiscal Duncan MacKenzie said the incident began just after 7pm on August 27 when police received reports of two men having a “violent dispute” in the town’s street.

Officers attended and noticed Forsyth matched the description of one of the men and asked to speak with him.

Mr MacKenzie said the defendant “instantly became aggressive” and began shouting, swearing and going to headbutt one of the officers.

Forsyth, of South Shields, was handcuffed and placed in the back of the police vehicle, at which point he complained of “feeling dizzy”.

When a police officer went to help, Forsyth unsuccessfully tried to escape.

He continued shouting, swearing, kicking the inside of the vehicle and spitting on the window as he drove to Lerwick Police Station.

The person, who complained of dizziness and nausea again, was taken to Gilbert Bain Hospital and continued his aggressive behavior there.

Mr MacKenzie said officers were forced to restrain the defendant and his verbal and physically aggressive behavior was at that level.

Even after retraining him in his hospital bed, he tried to attack and hit the officer and attempted to kick one of them in the body.

His behavior was so bad that officers had to pepper spray the defendant and other officers were called to assist.

All medical staff and patients, including young children, were exposed to Forsyth’s behavior.

After he calmed down and was told that he would be discharged, he became aggressive again.

Mr MacKenzie said he used homophobic abuse liberally>

At the police station, Forsyth was put into a harm protection suit in which he attempted to block the toilet.

The fiscal said the man later threatened to stab an officer in the neck and rape his wife and daughter.

The entire incident lasted “several hours,” the court heard.

Defense agent Tommy Allan said his client was working as a blacksmith in Senegal, earning £330 a day, and was “anxious not to jeopardize his job”.

Mr Allan said his client was very drunk and had been drugged.

He said he accepted Forsyth’s behavior was “an absolute disgrace” and wanted to apologize for what he did.

Sheriff Cruickshank said that, given the narrative or events released by the Crown, he could not see any way of dealing with the matter without criminal justice casework and the preparation of deprivation of liberty reports.

He also said Forsyth should “face what he’s done” and return to Lerwick for sentencing.

Mr Allan said his client would not leave his eight-week shift rotation until Boxing Day and asked for his attendance to be excused until then.

Sheriff Cruickshank agreed to excuse himself from his attendance until the reports were completed.