Two Shetland Teenagers Placed on Sex Offenders Register

Two Shetland teenagers were placed on the sex offenders register at Lerwick Sheriff Court for inappropriate behavior towards young girls.

James Leaper, 16, of 14 Maidenfield, Mossbank, pleaded guilty to making verbal and written sexual comments to an 11-year-old girl between July 1 and October 21, 2023, in Lerwick's Harbour Street and elsewhere. He also admitted offering to supply the same girl with cannabis on September 1 or 2, 2023.

Defense agent Tommy Allan stated that Leaper was immature and lacked self-esteem, attempting to compensate by trying to impress others with acts of bravado. While acknowledging encouragement for this behavior, Mr. Allan emphasized that the actions were undeniably inappropriate, although Leaper posed no underlying risk to young people.

Leaper's agent noted that he had been excluded from school due to the offenses but was cooperating with various agencies to address his personal issues, continue his education, and find employment. Sheriff Philip Mann told Leaper he was old enough to comprehend the wrongfulness and inappropriateness of his actions, warning of the potential long-lasting impact on young females.

Sentencing Leaper to 240 hours of community service and a one-year supervised community payback order, the sheriff stated, "Offering to supply an 11-year-old is serious in the extreme. I shudder to think what might have happened if she had accepted that offer."

The sheriff also handed a nine-month supervised community payback order without unpaid work to 17-year-old Declan Harrison-Ames, of New Craigielea, Seafield Road, Lerwick. Harrison-Ames pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting three girls aged 13 and 14 by touching them sexually and making sexual comments to one of the 14-year-olds. These offenses occurred on Lerwick's Commercial Street and Viking Bus Station between December 20 and January 14.

The court heard that Harrison-Ames suffered from a condition that significantly mitigated his actions, and the offenses were not overtly sexual. Both men must remain on the sex offenders register for the duration of their community payback orders.