South Ronaldsay man sentenced to two years in prison

A South Ronaldsay man has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of assaulting his uncle by pushing him through a fence with a plough, lowering the plough on top of him pinning him to the ground, and repeatedly punching him on the head, all to his injury and danger of life.

Appearing from custody at Kirkwall Sheriff Court this afternoon for sentencing, Peter Alexander Thomson, 24, was previously found guilty of the offence by a majority verdict from a jury, after a five day trial last month.

Giving evidence at the trial, Thomson admitted the assault which took place on April 28, however maintained that at no point he had placed his uncle’s life in danger.

Sentencing Thomson, Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said she had taken into account that he had shown remorse, had taken responsibility for his actions, and that there was “family history.”

She said: “I have come to the conclusion that the appropriate sentence on you is 24 months in custody back dated to April 30 when you were taken into police custody.”