Cops tased thug who threatened workers with a vodka bottle
Drunk yob lost the plot with recycling centre staff
A boozed-up thug had to be tased by cops after he threatened workers at a recycling centre.
John Thomas, 38, flipped out and became aggressive towards Renfrewshire Council staff when he was caught skulking behind a skip at the centre in Middleton Road, Linwood.
Thomas, who was swigging from a bottle of vodka, even bragged he was there to steal gas cannisters, and threatened workers with violence, when they told him to leave on March 15 this year.
A prosecutor told Paisley Sheriff Court : “At 3pm on the day in question a worker at the recycling centre saw the accused walking on the road near to the centre.
“The member of staff had previous issues with the accused and contacted his supervisor to attend.
“When the supervisor attended, Thomas was no longer there.
“However, at 5.40pm staff found him in the refuse yard hiding behind a skip.
“He was asked to leave.
“He shouted, ‘I am only here for your gas cannisters.’”
Thomas walked out the yard, but remained at the gate, holding the bottle of vodka in his hand.
The prosecutor added: “He continued to stand outside the gate. Staff were concerned because he was near their private vehicles.
“They approached to see what he was doing.
“He had a bottle of vodka in his hand and he ran at them.
“He shouted, ‘ You are getting it now!’
“However he stopped when he realised he was outnumbered and began walking away.”
Employees contacted police who arrived quickly and spotted Thomas loitering outside.
The prosecutor said: “He was heavily under the influence and began walking towards officers, still with the bottle of vodka in his hand.
“One of the officers was concerned there was no distance between himself and the accused.
“He drew his taser and requested
Thomas put the bottle down.
“He kept walking towards the officer and he was tased as a result.”
Thomas was taken to hospital for a check up but was released into police custody.
He appeared at court where he pleaded guilty to a charge of public disorder at the recycling centre where he intimidated employees working there, shouted and uttered a threat while holding a glass bottle, ran at staff, and placed them in a state of fear and alarm.
Thomas, of Ferguslie Park Avenue, also admitted walking towards police officers with the glass bottle.
Defence agent Amy Spencer said: “His level of intoxication during the incident was such that he remembers absolutely nothing about it.
“He doesn’t even remember being tased or being taken to hospital.”
She added her client has “a difficulty with alcohol” but was admitting responsibility for the rammy.
Sheriff Bruce Erroch QC told him: “This is a very serious matter involving threatening behaviour towards people who were simply doing their jobs.”
He deferred sentence on Thomas for six months and ordered him back to court on November 26, this year, when he will discover his fate.
This is a very serious matter involving threatening behaviour towards people simply doing their jobs