MAN JAILED FOR PERTH GUN SCARE McLean, 22, pointed it in woman’s face
Armed response cops drafted into city centre A young Perth man who put a woman through a “terrifying”ordeal when he pointed what she believed to be a gun in her face has been jailed for 18 months.
Perth Sheriff Court previously heard 22-year-old Connor McLean also put police in the city on high alert after pointing what later turned out to be an air pistol at the woman’s head in Perth High Street on June 24 last year.
He was already being held in custody after admitting possessing the weapon earlier this year.
This week, sheriff Gillian Wade sentenced McLean to serve 18 months in prison after concluding a background report prepared on him suggested he did not fully accept the seriousness of his offence.
The court previously heard armed response officers were deployed in the city centre after
Nicole McMahon reported she had been approached by McLean while walking along the High Street alone at around 10.50pm and he pointed what appeared to be a real gun at her head.
Officers eventually traced McLean in North Methven Street the next morning with the alleged weapon still stuffed down his trousers.
The weapon turned out to be CO2-powered BB gun resembling an American-manufactured Colt self-loading pistol.
Narrating the late night incident at an earlier court hearing depute fiscal John Malpass said McLean and an unidentified male associate were drunk when they approached Ms McMahon.
“The accused asked if she had a lighter he could borrow and she observed that he had a gun in his trouser waistband - and was alarmed,” he told Perth Sheriff Court a few weeks ago.
Mr Malpass said McLean went on to tell Ms Mahon that she did not want to add him on Facebook because he was a “criminal”then“for no reason, pointed the gun in her face.”
“She cannot confirm if the accused said anything when he was pointing the gun at her as she was so scared,”Ms Malpass added.
When McLean appeared at court again this week solicitor Pauline Cullerton pushed for his release from prison saying he was keen to be put back on the Right Track rehabilitation scheme which it is understood he was on prior to be taken into custody.
But after reading a background report on McLean sheriff Wade remarked:“He doesn’t even seem to accept he pointed the gun at the victim’s head.”
And talking to him directly as she sentenced him she added: “This must have been terrifying for the victim involved. You told her you were a criminal.”
McLean’s sentence was backdated to April 10 when he was first taken into custody.