A man who vandalised fish processing equipment at Scottish Sea Farms in Scalloway was yesterday ordered to pay £2,000 compensation to his former employer.
Robert Setrice, 39, of Skerpalea, Sandwick, admitted maliciously disconnecting pipes and cables from the rear of machinery at company’s factory at Blacksness Pier, Scalloway, on three occasions between March 30 and April 28.
It resulted in effluent material being discharged onto the ground. Fiscal Duncan Mackenzie at Lerwick Sheriff Court described it as “quite a troubling case” which seemed to have been more than an “impromptu, spontaneous act”.
He said some of the equipment tampered with included live electrical cables and added that it was fortunate that those investigating the problem knew what they were doing.
Mr Mackenzie said there had been “quite a significant impact” on the company.
Clean-up costs and business lost as a result of a temporary close down amounted to £4,886.
Until the incidents the company had not felt the need for security measures, but had now installed padlocks and CCTV, the court heard.
Before it was discovered that Setrice was responsible, suspicion had fallen on staff and that had made the working environment uncomfortable, the fiscal added.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client was “struggling to explain why he did this”, but stressed Setrice had not set out to put any individuals at risk.
He also felt a “significant amount of remorse and humiliation” for a crime intended to cause “nuisance and inconvenience rather than anything more than that”.
Sheriff Donald Ferguson said Setrice’s “inexplicable” behaviour had caused disruption to the business.
In addition to paying compensation he sentenced Setrice to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work and imposed a 12-month community payback order.