Nwicker60
27-Oct-12, 09:29
Posts which exacerbate disorderly conduct could result in sheriff court appearances
A SHERIFF has warned yesterday that the day may be coming when the law will crack down on people who post excessive messages on social networking sites that add fuel to bad behaviour.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said that the“riled up” people, who were found to have made matters worse, would then find themselves in court.
He issued the warning when he dealt with a case of breach of the peace, agravated by some Facebook posts.
The court at Wick, heard that Lee Williamson landed in trouble when he took exception to comments being made about his girlfriend on the site and paid a visit to an address in Thurso, on July 12, in an attempt to sort things out.
However, the situation escalated and led to the 19-year-old being charged with a breach of the peace.
David Barclay, prosecuting, told the court that there appeared to have been some “unpleasant" traffic on Facebook and the accused had gone to the address in the Thurso's Bank Court, to meet a group of teenagers and prevent matters escalating.
The situation, became heated, Williamson started struggling with one of the youths present, and the police were called.
Mr Barclay said: “He accepted that things had perhaps had got out of proportion.”
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that the accused had regarded the Facebook messages, in question, as “harassment” towards his girlfriend and he wanted to resolve matters.
She said: “He wanted to calm things down, but they escalated”. Ms MacDonald added that Williamson was a first offender and “deeply ashamed” to find himself in court and did not intend returning.
Sheriff Berry commented: “The courts are hearing more and more about comments being made by individuals on Facebook and similar sites. I suspect that day is coming when the police will take time where possible, to take steps to check whether social site comments made by people who are wound up and riled up, have contributed to the heat of a situation being increased, and they will find themselves in court.”
The sheriff added that he anticipated that the public in general, would welcome court action in cases where such networking traffic had contributed to anti-social behaviour and made it “much worse”.
Williamson, of 22 Bayview Terrace, Thurso pleaded guilty and was fined £150.
A SHERIFF has warned yesterday that the day may be coming when the law will crack down on people who post excessive messages on social networking sites that add fuel to bad behaviour.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said that the“riled up” people, who were found to have made matters worse, would then find themselves in court.
He issued the warning when he dealt with a case of breach of the peace, agravated by some Facebook posts.
The court at Wick, heard that Lee Williamson landed in trouble when he took exception to comments being made about his girlfriend on the site and paid a visit to an address in Thurso, on July 12, in an attempt to sort things out.
However, the situation escalated and led to the 19-year-old being charged with a breach of the peace.
David Barclay, prosecuting, told the court that there appeared to have been some “unpleasant" traffic on Facebook and the accused had gone to the address in the Thurso's Bank Court, to meet a group of teenagers and prevent matters escalating.
The situation, became heated, Williamson started struggling with one of the youths present, and the police were called.
Mr Barclay said: “He accepted that things had perhaps had got out of proportion.”
Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that the accused had regarded the Facebook messages, in question, as “harassment” towards his girlfriend and he wanted to resolve matters.
She said: “He wanted to calm things down, but they escalated”. Ms MacDonald added that Williamson was a first offender and “deeply ashamed” to find himself in court and did not intend returning.
Sheriff Berry commented: “The courts are hearing more and more about comments being made by individuals on Facebook and similar sites. I suspect that day is coming when the police will take time where possible, to take steps to check whether social site comments made by people who are wound up and riled up, have contributed to the heat of a situation being increased, and they will find themselves in court.”
The sheriff added that he anticipated that the public in general, would welcome court action in cases where such networking traffic had contributed to anti-social behaviour and made it “much worse”.
Williamson, of 22 Bayview Terrace, Thurso pleaded guilty and was fined £150.