Stabbing threat made over cigs

A Perth thug threatened to stab a teenager unless he gave him a cigarette after confronting a group of youngsters as they walked home.

But when 21-year-old Iain Merchant reached into his pocket, one of the youth’s friends, who works as a door steward, grabbed him and pinned him to the ground until police arrived.

The accused, of Menzies Court, had only been freed from a custodial sentence last April, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

The accused, who was spared detention and ordered to complete the Right Track project, is making good progress on it, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

He had his sentence deferred until September 28 after his latest court appearance.

Merchant admitted assaulting the 17-yearold, 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.

The court was told that the accused reacted violently after demanding a cigarette from one of the teenagers.

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

Solicitor Billy Somerville explained that his client had approached a total of six youths, all around his age - or younger.

“Foolishly, he made this threat. He was heavily under the influence of alcohol and was making very little sense when taken into custody.”