Scaredtrio hidfrom knifeman

A teen was forced to barricade himself, a young girl and a woman inside a room to protect themselves from a knife-wielding yob.

Gerard McCarthy, 47, armed himself with a blade and started shouting and bawling abuse, compelling the victims to seek refuge by locking themselves inside a room and blocking the door.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard McCarthy lost the plot after an all-day drinking session on September 15 at a property in the Renfrewshire area.

Procurator fiscal depute Maria Murdoch told the court that “all three witnesses barricaded themselves” in a room on the upper floor of the property after an argument flared about McCarthy’s drinking.

She said: “A witness found the accused to be intoxicated and he was asked to leave the premises.

“On hearing this, the accused began to shout and swear.

“The witness backed away. “The accused was screaming at the witness. He made his way downstairs and threatened that he would kill himself.

“He was standing at the bottom of the stairs holding a large bread knife.”

The fiscal added that McCarthy caused “fear and alarm” to the witnesses.

She said: “One witness ushered a woman and another witness into a room where the door was secured and police were contacted.

“They heard the accused approach the door. They were fearful so they barricaded themselves in the room.

“When the accused realised he couldn’t enter, he went downstairs where he continued shouting and swearing.”

The court heard McCarthy shouted: “Open the door or I will f ****** kill you.”

Cops who attended the property quickly placed him under arrest.

McCarthy, of Semphill Avenue, Erskine, pleaded guilty to a charge of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner in that he shouted, swore, brandished a knife and threatened to harm himself.

Defence agent Matt Lynch confirmed that McCarthy was pleading guilty to the charge.

However, he reserved his defence submission on behalf of his client until after the court had obtained background reports in preparation for sentencing.

Sheriff Bruce Erroch QC adjourned the case to call for a restriction of liberty assessment and Criminal Justice Social Work reports.

McCarthy was released on bail but ordered back to court on November 17, when he will discover his fate.