Reliance told to appear in court

Reliance was delivering a prisoner to Lerwick Sheriff Court

Prisoner escort company Reliance has been told to appear in court in Shetland after failing to deliver a prisoner from Aberdeen on time.

The Sheriff for Orkney and Shetland has ordered a chief officer from the firm to attend Lerwick Sheriff Court on a possible contempt of court charge.

Flight problems earlier this week left a prisoner stranded in Aberdeen.

Sheriff Graeme Napier said he was fed up with Reliance and its "excuses". The case will be held at 1200 BST.

A senior custody officer told the sheriff that fog had delayed the prisoner on Tuesday night and they missed the early flight the next morning to Shetland.

Other flights on Wednesday were full.

But Sheriff Napier told the custody officer to explain why they had missed the flight and had not taken the overnight ferry instead.

The area manager for Reliance has promised to appear in front of the sheriff, along with his lawyer, to explain the travel problems.