Machete threat fear

Drunk turned on friends

A drunk brandished a machete at his horrified housemates, threatening to kill them and telling one he would “tear her stomach out”.

Rafal Tylman, 23, was ordered to do 135 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to the alarming incident, which took place on February 25.

Polish national Tylman came to Scotland 18 months ago and was living in Coatbridge’s Jackson Court when he turned on his friends.

Accompanied in court by an interpreter, he heard that his positive background report saved him from a custodial sentence.

Procurator fiscal Kiran Uppal told the court: “The accused was staying at Jackson Court with the two occupiers.

“In the early hours the householders and the accused had been drinking and he started to become abusive.

“He shouted to the householders to get out and began to throw their belongings on to the landing.

“When he was asked to calm down he brandished a machete towards them.”

The fiscal went on: “He told the female householder he would tear her stomach out and threatened to kill them both.

“They were both so scared and distressed that they left the house and contacted relatives, who phoned the police.

“When they arrived they arrested the accused and took him to Coatbridge police office.”

Tylman’s solicitor Rowan Myles said: “This is extremely unusual behaviour for my client. He is a 23-year-old with no record and had been living with these individuals.

“He is extremely sorry and apologetic for his actions and has advised me drinking alcohol was rare for him.

“The machete wasn’t his. It was just lying in the property and he picked it up.

“He came over here to work and has a very good work ethic at his job in a waste plant in Bargeddie.

“This was a complete departure from his normal behaviour and he has a low risk of reoffending.”

Sheriff Frank Pieri told Tylman: “The is an extremely serious matter.

“To brandish a weapon like a machete could have seen you end up in prison.

“However, your solicitor has expressed a positive report and I am prepared to deal with this via an alternative to custody.”

He threatened to kill them both