Police call for joiner to gain access to flat Perth man reacts furiously when officers arrive at door

A joiner was summoned by police to cut through the security chain of a house in the Letham district of Perth.

Two officers had arrived at a flat in Rannoch Road with an arrest warrant for a man they believed was inside.

The person they wanted wasn’t there but Robbie Smullen, who was inside, reacted violently to their presence.

Perth Sheriff Court was told last Thursday that he tried to punch them and struggled violently as they tried to cuff him.

A third officer was called to help subdue the 18-year-old, now of Firbank Road.

He was told by Sheriff William Wood: “There’s almost an inevitability that you will end back in prison.

“But maybe, just maybe, you will at last take on board the assistance offered and try to stop this revolving door.”

Smullen, who said he “wanted to change,” was put on the Right Track programme, set up to help wayward teenagers.

He admitted that on November 25, at the house in Rannoch Road, he prevented officers from searching the premises for a person wanted on apprehension warrant.

He refused to open the door or remove the security chain and attempted to punch them before resisting arrest.

Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said police had obtained a key for the flat from Perth and Kinross Council.

When they unlocked the door, however, it was chained from the inside.

“Officers explained to him they wanted to arrest someone whom they believed to be inside but he refused to let them in.”

Solicitor Paul Ralph said: “Today, in his clear, sober state, he would welcome Right Track.

“Hopefully that will get the message through to him.”

Sheriff Wood said that given the accused’s “unenviable history,” it was fortunate he hadn’t appeared on petition.

He was prepared to try Right Track but warned Smullen: “If you slip up, you go back to prison.

“You almost manufactured the situation when the police weren’t interested in you.”