SHERIFF COURT CASEBOOK Festive fool sets his dogs on cops

A foolish Airdrie yob made a Christmas turkey of himself during a frightening festive fiasco that culminated in him setting his dogs on police.

Shaun Wallace narrowly avoided jail time for his dangerous actions – that saw one cop bitten on the hand – and having possession of a kitchen knife.

The not-so-merry manic 27-yearold abandoned his role as Christmas Day dinner host to run outside in his novelty festive-themed apron after hearing a commotion involving his sister.

Wallace, of Kippen Street, wrongly assumed his sibling had been hit by a car and confronted the driver – with the knife he was going to use to carve the Christmas turkey in his apron pocket.

Police were at the scene, on Deedes Street in Airdrie, and Wallace told his three cross- breed dogs to “attack” them, resulting in the officer’s injury.

Wallace entered a guilty plea at Airdrie Sheriff Court and, following a deferral for reports into background, appeared for sentencing last week.

Procurator fiscal Yolande Love: “The witness had fallen on the roadside, causing a vehicle to stop and an ambulance was called.

“Police attended and the accused appeared. He was the brother of the witness in the ambulance and began shouting as he believed the car owner had hit his sister with his car.

“Police approached the accused and were advised by the car owner that he had a knife in his possession.

“The police told the accused he was going to be searched. The accused was still upset and had dogs with him, who started barking and growling.

“The accused then shouted ‘attack’ and ‘get them’ to the dogs.

“One of the officers fell to the ground and one of the dogs bit his finger, causing a puncture wound.

“The accused managed to get away and another member of the public had to assist the police.

“The accused put his dogs in his flat and came back outside and he was informed he was under arrest.

“Police returned later and recovered a bread knife from the exact place the accused had been standing. The witness confirmed it was the knife he had seen earlier.”

Defence solicitor Paul Belardo spoke on his client’s behalf: “The incident happened on Christmas Day. The accused was hosting Christmas dinner with his sister, her partner and another friend.

“The sister left the house and there was a commotion outside that left Mr Wallace with the impression she’d been hit by the man’s car.

“He was wearing a novelty apron at the time and had been going to carve the turkey with the knife that was in the pocket of the apron.

“He has three cross-breed dogs and stupidly made the remarks to the dogs and an officer was injured.

“He understands the error of his ways and that this is a serious matter.

“Hours [of unpaid work] could be imposed on him and he can comply with a restriction of liberty order.”

Sheriff Petra Collins then warned Wallace: “It is extremely serious to set dogs on anyone, never mind a police officer.

“On the narrowest of margins, I will not impose a custodial sentence.

“I will make a community payback order with 197 hours’ unpaid work and allow you nine months to complete them.

“If you breach this order and are brought back before me there really is only one alternative, and that is jail.”