Thugrobbedman

A baby-faced thug, high on a cocktail of drink and drugs, robbed a man of a mobile phone in a Perth city centre street while armed with a large kitchen knife.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the victim“immediately handed it over” after 22-year-old Robin Alcorn lifted his T-shirt to reveal the black-handled weapon - and four inches of its blade.

It was dark and the street lights were on when Dawid Wisniewski left the Station Hotel with a friend about 9.20pm and was walking near the Matalan car park in Victoria Street.

They parted and he was walking along the street talking on his phone when he heard a male voice shout: “Mate, mate.”

Depute fiscal Michael Sweeney said: “The accused was under the influence of alcohol and his speech was slurred.”

A description of the robber was circulated and he was later spotted in the area of the store.

“He was found hiding behind a number of bins in Ropemaker’s Close.”

The knife was recovered after the bins were searched.

When charged, Alcorn, previously of Meadowview Drive, Inchture, and now described as a prisoner at Perth, replied:“I wouldn’t do that to anyone.”

But he admitted assaulting and robbing the other man on April 1 this year when he appeared on indictment.

The charge indicated that he revealed the knife, which was in the waistband of his trousers, inducing fear of an attack and inferring he would use the weapon.

Solicitor Larry Flynn said his client had been at a party, had consumed alcohol and also taken some illegal drugs - speed.

He had been threatened while there and had to leave.

He couldn’t remember lifting up his T-shirt and revealing the weapon to Mr Wisniewski.

But the lawyer added:“He accepts his memory had been clouded by the alcohol and drugs.”

The lawyer submitted:“He’s not by nature a violent and aggressive man” although he had been given 220 days in aYoung Offenders’Institution in 2014 for assault.

Sheriff William Wood who noted that the victim had been“rattled”by the confrontation, deferred sentence on Alcorn until September 19.

That will give the appeal court time to consider whether they wish to return Alcorn to custody to serve the unexpired portion of a 32-month sentence imposed by the high court for a drugs offence in November, 2016.

The accused was remanded in custody meantime.

A motion to forfeit the knife was continued until next month.