Reliance boss fails to meet angry sheriff
0 Comments | Scotsman (Edinburgh, Scotland), The, Sept 15, 2006
Byline: John Ross
A PRISON escort agency boss will today face the wrath of a sheriff, after failing to appear yesterday and explain why his firm had not delivered an accused man to court.
On Wednesday Sheriff Graeme Napier said he was “fed up” with Reliance and their excuses after flight problems left prisoner Lee Hunter stranded in Aberdeen rather than in the dock at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
The sheriff warned that he may charge the company with contempt of court and ordered a senior officer to attend to give an explanation.
However, no-one from Reliance made it to the court yesterday and the case had to be deferred until noon today. The company’s area manager, Mike Pirie, has promised to appear in front of the sheriff, along with a solicitor, Paul Wade.
Hunter, 20, from Lerwick, had been due to appear to face four charges of assault, possession of cannabis and breach of probation.
Reliance’s senior custody officer, Alexander Murray, told the sheriff that officers who had gone to collect Hunter were delayed by fog on Tuesday night. On Wednesday they missed the early flight, after which there was no room on the planes.
An angry Sheriff Napier told Mr Murray that Reliance should have brought Hunter to Shetland by boat as soon as they realised weather problems would affect the flights.
He told Mr Murray he wanted a senior Reliance officer in court yesterday morning.
Mr Pirie and Mr Wade were booked on a flight to arrive in Shetland yesterday, but failed to make the court hearing with foggy conditions prevailing throughout the islands all day.
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