Jailed for terrifying Good Samaritan with a knife

A Perth man terrified a Good Samaritan when he produced a knife with a four-inch long blade after claiming he had been stabbed.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that Sharron Colburn had gone to investigate the late-night incident near her city centre home - and an ambulance was summoned.

But as she went to have a closer look, she could see no trace of blood - either on Michael Czekalla, his clothing or the ground.

She started to panic - and she became even more alarmed when he produced the weapon from the waistband of his trousers.

The incident led to 23-year-old Czekalla being jailed for 20 months when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court.

The sentence will be served consecutively to an eight-month jail term he is serving at present.

The accused, described as a prisoner at Perth, admitted being in possession of the knife in Victoria Street on July 16 this year and frightening Ms Colburn by producing it from his clothing.

He also pled guilty to assaulting PCs Gavin McLeod and Mark Symons by attempting to bite them on the body and attempting to kick the first officer on the body.

The court heard that the woman heard cries for help from a man shouting he had been stabbed.

Czekalla was found lying on the pavement in Victoria Street and again claimed he had been the victim of a knife attack.

He thrust his hand through garden railings, gave her a mobile phone and told her to speak to call someone.

She told that person where the accused was - and that help had been summoned.

She was“concerned for the safety” of Czekalla, according to depute fiscal John Malpass.

But as she went to have a closer look, she could see no trace of blood.

She was then terrified to see a knife protruding from the waistband of his trousers.

“She challenged him and said: ‘You’ve not been stabbed.’

“He then pulled the blade from his waistband and although he didn’t brandish it, she was alarmed because of his volatile and unpredictable behaviour,”added the fiscal.

Czekalla threw the knife to the ground and admitted:“I’ve not been stabbed.”

He then ran off down the street, shouting:“That’s not my f***ing knife.”

He was later found“slumped” against a wall in Perth’s South Street but failed to engage with officers because of his intoxicated state.

He was arrested and taken to Perth police headquarters but became aggressive and tried to bite two different officers.

The weapon - a cheese knife - was later recovered.

Mr Malpass said two local residents were alerted by shouts outside their home shortly before 11pm.

When the accused was taken to Perth police office, he became aggressive, was restrained on the ground and, because of his continuing behaviour, what’s known as a‘spit hood’was placed on his head.

Solicitor Paul Ralph said his client is currently serving a prison sentence imposed on August 30.

The accused has previous convictions for assault and attempted robbery involving a knife and was told by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis that custody was“almost inevitable.”