Terror of woman who spotted knifemen outside home
A frightened woman feared someone would be killed when she saw three armed men outside her Viewpark home late at night.
Two had knives and the resident believed they were out to get her upstairs neighbour.
Police officers raced to the scene and one of the trio, who was holding a large metal pole, could be heard goading the officers by shouting“’mon then”.
The men refused to lay down their weapons, before turning and fleeing from the scene.
Patrick Jamieson, 32, of Sanderson Avenue, and Thomas Fox, 31, of Fallside Avenue, both Viewpark, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court last week.
Jamieson admitted having a knife in Fallside Avenue last September 7 while Fox admitted illegal possession of the pole.
Both were jailed for nine months by Sheriff Alasdair Macfadyen who said there was no appropriate alternative sentence given the nature of the charges. The third man was not traced. Vish Kathuria, prosecuting, said a woman heard sounds of a disturbance about 11.45pm on a Friday night.
Jamieson and the unknown third man had knives which they were running along a metal fence.
Kathuria said:“fox, who was wearing a Celtic top, had a large metal pole and was striking this off a wooden fence.
“The woman felt they were targeting an upstairs neighbour. They were shouting but she couldn’t make out what was being said.
“They walked off and the woman, who feared someone was going to be killed, contacted the police as did a nearby resident.
“A significant number of officers was deployed to attend.
“When they arrived they saw a small group including Jamieson who was holding a kitchen knife with a blade of about 8.5 inches.
“The three men were instructed to drop their weapons but refused.
“Fox was bouncing on his toes while brandishing the pole at police officers and shouting‘mon then’which they took as an indication to fight.”
The fiscal said Jamieson eventually dropped his knife and ran off, but he was caught after a short chase.
Fox also fled, but officers found him later. He was under the influence and out of breath.