Drunken lunge at pal with a knife

A drunken Bridge of Earn man armed himself with a knife and brandished it at one of his drinking companions after consuming a cocktail of booze and prescription drugs.

During one of their trips to the off-licence, a litre bottle of vodka and three bottles of Buckfast were purchased.

The fortified wine, which also contains caffeine, was said to“fuel discord”among those who drink it, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

Forty-three-year-old Alexander Logue, of Back Street, had been involved in a lengthy drinking session with two friends, starting at around 1pm.

But an argument later developed and Samuel Jeffrey and Mark Watson left after“things got heated,”explained depute fiscal Robbie Brown.

Shortly afterwards, however, Logue knocked on Mr Jeffrey’s door.

He was wielding a bottle over his head and as the door was closed, he smashed it, leaving a hole in the door which cost £150 to repair.

Worse was to come when the accused then appeared at Mr Watson’s door with a knife.

The accused, who was said to have been talking“gibberish”at one point, lunged at the other man with the blade.

He managed to restrain his attacker but was injured during the subsequent struggle.

Logue, who was said to have little recollection of events, was spared a jail sentence.

Sheriff William Wood told him:“An offence like this would normally attract a custodial sentence - and not a short one. But I am persuaded - just - because you are a first offender and do have mental health difficulties, not to go down that route.”

Logue was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work within the next six months and will be supervised for a year.

He will also have to pay Mr Watson £150 compensation for the superficial injuries he sustained.

He admitted that on August 6 last year, at Herriot House, Back Street, Bridge of Earn, he acted in an aggressive manner towards Mr Jeffrey, brandished the bottle and smashed it against his door.

He then lunged at Mr Watson in the same property whilst holding the knife and struggling with him, to his injury.

Mr Brown said the accused and both complainers had been“friends”at the time. They started drinking around 1pm and the argument flared up about 6-7pm, resulting in both men leaving.

Solicitor David Sinclair said the incident at the door took place in the early hours, after more alcohol had been consumed.

His client took medication for his mental health issues and he hadn’t been specifically told to avoid alcohol, although it wasn’t recommended.

He apologised for his actions and had since moderated the amount of drink he consumes.

“The accused is concerned he has allowed himself to get into this state and members of the public were put at risk. It’s a lesson well learned,”added the lawyer.

The accused had since paid for the damage to the door.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Wood said: “Whilst I accept you have various mental health difficulties, clearly there’s no excuse for this.”