Sheriff blasts tractor-prank pair

Orkney’s sheriff has blasted two drunk men who jumped from a moving tractor, leaving it “out of control” to crash into a wall along a busy street in Stromness.

Sheriff Graeme Napier told Sam James Nicolson and Ewan Alexander Flaws that their behaviour was “absolutely disgraceful”.

Nicolson, 23, Grimond Place, Finstown, and Flaws, 20, Grimond Square, Finstown, appeared from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Friday.

Nicolson pleaded guilty to taking and driving away a tractor without consent on June 9, while with 121 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the 35 microgrammes legal alcohol limit. Nicolson further admitted jumping from the cab of the tractor, leaving it to continue along the street, busy with pedestrians.

Meanwhile, Flaws also pleaded guilty to taking the tractor without consent while with a count of 119 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath and jumping from the cab.

The pair were released on bail and sentence deferred, until July 12, for social inquiry reports.