Machete man spat at police

A man who brandished a machete and knife at a Stirling homeless unit has been placed under supervision.

Jordan Blair (21) was in possession of the two blades as well as a balaclava and went on to spit at a security guard at the facility and a police officer.

Blair, who now lives in Baillieston, Glasgow, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by being in possession of the weapons and also admitted two charges of assault for the spitting incidents at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

On October 19 Laird went to the room of another resident at the homeless unit in Springkerse Road.

Fiscal depute Lindsey Brooks told the court: “Security guards at Springkerse House saw the accused acting in a suspicious manner on CCTV and holding a jacket, concealing something.”

They then heard a banging noise and went to investigate. They knocked on the door and the male resident answered. The guards then spotted Laird, who was agitated and wearing a balaclava.

Laird picked up a large machete from the table and then pulled a knife from the waistband of his trousers and said that it was a fishing knife.

After he returned to his own accommodation the security guards saw Laird with the blades again and he told them: “I’m not afraid to use them”.

Police were then called and they found Laird in his room. As they led him away he spat at the security guard’s head.

He was taken to Falkirk Police Office and strip searched. He became extremely aggressive and spat at one of the police officers.

Ken Dalling, defending, said: “He accepts that his behaviour was concerning and, in the totality of it, it could be perceived as threatening.”

Mr Dalling described Laird as naive and added: “His behaviour towards them was ill–judged.”

He said the machete, knife and balaclava were for “fishing and camping purposes”.

The defence agent also pointed out that Laird had been under the influence at the time,

Sheriff William Gilchrist told Laird: “Your behaviour is described as naive. It’s rather strange behaviour to show someone your machete and knife.

“If you had the machete in a public place then you would have gone to prison.

“You clearly have a number of issues which need to be addressed.”

Sheriff Gilchrist placed Laird on a community payback order which requires him to be under supervision for a year.