Manmadethreats toteenagers

A Perth man reacted violently after confronting a group of teenagers and demanding a cigarette from one of them.

When the 17-year-old told him he had no tobacco, 21-year-old Iain Merchant grabbed him by the arm and told him he had a knife.

He then said:“If you don’t give me a fag I’ll stab you.

“Next he put his hand into his right trouser pocket as if he was reaching for an item,”depute fiscal Carol Whyte told Perth Sheriff Court.

But one of his friends, who works as a door steward, was able to restrain Merchant and he was pinned to the ground while police were called.

The fiscal added:“They arrived within minutes and the accused was handcuffed and searched. “No knife was recovered.” Merchant, whose behaviour was described by the sheriff as“very disturbing and slightly bizarre,”will be sentenced on April 4 after a social inquiry report and a restriction of liberty order assessment have been prepared.

Merchant, of Menzies Court, admitted assaulting the 17 year-old, threatening him and a friend with violence and pretending he had a blade in his possession.

The incident took place in Perth’s Crieff Road on November 3 last year.

Ms Whyte said that the teenager was walking up the road shortly after 10.15pm with four friends, all aged between 17 and 19.

He was confronted by the accused, who wasn’t known to them, and the threats were made.

Fortunately the police were on the scene very quickly and Merchant was arrested.

Solicitor Billy Somerville said his client was a first offender.

He added:“He was heavily under the influence of alcohol and was making very little sense when taken into custody.”