Outburst man had hammer in his pocket

A Perth man was caught with a hammer after causing mayhem at a house in Errol.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that 23-year-old David Macleod had repeatedly punched and kicked the door of the property - and then challenged people to fight.

And when he was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary for treatment to injuries to his hand, he made racially offensive remarks.

The accused, of Tulloch Terrace, was ordered to complete 150 hours of work in the community as a “direct alternative” to time behind bars.

He admitted that on January 24 this year, at Norlands, Errol, he acted in an aggressive manner by shouting and swearing and hammering on the door.

He also pled guilty to having the offensive weapon in his possession - and then making the racial comments at the Perth hospital the following day.

Depute fiscal Robbie Brown said Macleod had become verbally abusive towards 23-year-old Sharmilla Ali at the property about 7.30pm.

She telephoned her 49-year-old father and when he arrived, the accused became aggressive and threatening towards him.

Macleod had accused people of stealing his car keys and the police were called.

After he was arrested, the hammer was found in his pocket.

When taken to PRI for treatment, he made comments about “f***ing immigrants” while he was in the waiting room.

Solicitor Linda Clark said Macleod said there were other men in the property who were known to the court.

They had all consumed alcohol and there was a dispute about the whereabouts of his car keys.

“He’s disappointed at himself but he has no intention of repeating the events of January 24.”

The court was told he anticipated graduating from Perth College UHI next month and then setting up his own landscape gardening business.

Imposing the community payback order, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: “Clearly you can’t behave in this way.”