Chased teen while armed with knife

A boozed up Perth man chased a terrified teenager along the road while armed with a large bread knife.

Twenty-one-year-old Sean Smullen had earlier repeatedly “swiped “the blade at the youth, a complete stranger, as he pursued him along Tulloch Road.

As the teen ran for his life towards Bruce Crescent, he managed to phone a friend and asked him to call the police.

While officers spoke to him about his terrifying ordeal, Smullen was seen nearby but ran off into a nearby block of flats.

But he was apprehended later that night - and the weapon he had brandished earlier that evening was recovered.

Smullen, who was said to have “very little memory” of the drink-fuelled incident because of his alcohol intake, was jailed for a total of 22 months.

Described as a prisoner at Perth, he admitted having the knife in Perth’s Tulloch Road on July 4 this year and then assaulting the victim by brandishing the weapon at him.

Depute fiscal John Malpass said the accused was of no fixed abode at the time and had been at his partner’s home in Wallace Court that evening.

He had been acting aggressively and said he was “going to stab someone that night - anyone.”

He was seen leaving the house in possession of a large bread knife.

While out in the street below, he became involved in an argument with with an unknown female.

The victim, who didn’t know the accused, witnessed the confrontation.

“He saw he had a large kitchen knife in his hand, concealed behind his back,” explained the fiscal.

“Without warning, the accused shouted at him, approached him and brandished the knife, swinging it at his neck area.

“In fear of his life, he ran off and was pursued.”

Fortunately none of the blows connected but he had given a victim impact statement describing his ordeal.

Lawyer Paul Ralph said the accused had been drinking to excess and appreciated he would serve a “significant period in custody.”

After Smullen had sobered up, he had spoken of his “relief ” that the charges he faced weren’t more serious.

Mr Ralph added: “The complainer didn’t suffer any injury but that doesn’t belittle the fear he experienced.”

Imposing the jail term, Sheriff Gillian Wade told Smullen: “For someone of your age, you have an unenviable record.

“The assault must have caused some considerable distress to your victim.”

Smullen, who has a previous conviction from 2017 for carrying a knife, had his jail term backdated to July 5 when he was first remanded.

In fear of his life, he ran off and was pursued