FAMILY SUFFER TERRIFYING KNIFE ORDEAL

Drunk threatened mother and uncle

A drunken man subjected his mother and uncle to a terrifying ordeal after holding a Stanley knife to their throats in a caravan near Perth.

During the frightening incident, David McMillan, 32, of St Madoes Caravan Park, Cairnie Road, also repeatedly punched both victims.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that the accused’s mother, Roberta Gibb, had been gardening outside.

She heard the accused shouting in one of the caravans and “immediately” went to investigate.

She saw him standing over his uncle, James McMillan, repeatedly punching him on the chest.

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode explained: “He also had a black Stanley knife in his other hand which he placed against Mr McMillan’s throat.

“On seeing his mother, the accused immediately walked over to her, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her over to the couch.”

The accused then threw her onto the sofa before repeatedly punching her with one hand while he held the blade to her throat with the other. The fiscal added:

“She curled into a ball to protect herself...and screamed for help.”

The police were contacted and McMillan was later traced in his own caravan and arrested.

He said he had “learning difficulties” but understood what was happening.

He was subsequently cautioned and charged but made no reply. He narrowly escaped a custodial sentence this week after admitted the two assaults which took place at the caravan park on May 20 this year.

Instead, he was given a Community Payback Order as a “direct alternative” to custody.

He will have to complete 280 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and will be supervised for two years. The Stanley knife was also forfeited. Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: “These are extremely serious offences.

“The part of the libel, which relates to the knife, for want of a better phrase, ups the ante.”

The sheriff added: “Because of your particular, personal circumstances - and because of your limited record - you are not losing your liberty.” However, Macmillan was warned that if appeared on a similar charge, that would be the likely outcome.

Solicitor Billy Somerville said a psychological report on the accused disclosed he has “significant difficulties.”

If placed in a custodial setting, he would be “highly vulnerable.”