JOHN HUTCHESON SENTENCED IN LERWICK FOR VIOLENT ASSAULT AND KNIFE BRANDISHING

On 17 June 2019, a serious incident involving John Hutcheson, a resident of Lerwick, culminated in his being sentenced to 16 months in prison for a series of violent acts against his pregnant partner. Hutcheson, whose address was recorded as Grampian Prison, appeared at Lerwick Sheriff Court from custody to face charges related to an assault and threatening behavior that took place earlier that year.

During the court proceedings, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that “abuse in a relationship is absolutely abhorrent.” Hutcheson, aged 28, pleaded guilty to two charges: first, assaulting his partner at an address in Lerwick on 26 February by striking her on the head, which caused injury; and second, shouting, swearing, behaving aggressively, and brandishing a knife at the same location and on the same date.

The prosecutor, Duncan Mackenzie, provided details about the incident, revealing that the victim was eight and a half months pregnant at the time. He explained that Hutcheson arrived at the residence around 5:30 pm, visibly under the influence of some substance. An argument quickly escalated, during which Hutcheson struck the woman in the face, exhibiting behavior described as “like he was possessed.”

Family members on the Scottish mainland became concerned after the incident and contacted the victim via a video call. During this call, the woman appeared distressed, with visible bruising and swelling on her face. Responding to her distress, the family members requested assistance from authorities in Shetland. A man was dispatched to the address and found Hutcheson upstairs in bed. When he was awakened, Hutcheson immediately became aggressive, shouting and swearing at the officers.

Attempts by the victim to de-escalate the situation failed, and the group moved downstairs. It was at this point that Hutcheson grabbed a kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade from a worktop. The court heard that a man present at the scene asked Hutcheson to leave, but instead, Hutcheson responded by striking the door from the other side with the knife, breaking it from its handle. Hutcheson then left the residence, prompting a swift police response. Officers arrived promptly and took the victim to the hospital for a check-up, which thankfully confirmed that her unborn child was unharmed.

Hutcheson’s defense lawyer, Tommy Allan, explained that his client had become upset after missing a social work appointment and had fallen in with old friends, consuming alcohol and other substances. Allan emphasized that Hutcheson felt “ashamed” upon seeing his partner’s injuries and noted that when sober, he was considered a good father. The lawyer also highlighted that Hutcheson’s partner had written a letter expressing her desire to continue their relationship, which the court was asked to consider.

While acknowledging that a custodial sentence was likely, Allan requested that the sheriff consider a drug treatment and testing order alongside a community payback order. The court adjourned briefly to review the letter from Hutcheson’s partner. Upon returning, Sheriff Cruickshank described Hutcheson’s behavior as “horrendous” and underscored the importance of love, respect, and safety in relationships. He acknowledged the significant distress caused to the victim.

Ultimately, Hutcheson was sentenced to 16 months in prison, with the sentence backdated to his initial custody date of 27 February. Sheriff Cruickshank noted that he had considered issuing a non-harassment order but decided against it by a narrow margin, largely because the victim wished to maintain the relationship despite the violence.