The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Dunblane man with imitation gun claimed he’d ‘kill drug addicts’

COURT: Jamie Bradley told couple he had a friend with an AK47 who would commit murder

- Tim bugler

A man with an imitation handgun tucked into his trousers made threats that a friend with an AK47 would murder people in Dunblane.

Jamie Bradley, 32, displayed the weapon and made the remark to a couple who were strolling with their young granddaugh­ter and their dog.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard the incident happened around 12.50 on a Saturday afternoon in July.

Bradley shouted to the couple and called the husband, James Cullen, across the road.

Mr Cullen, 52, who knew Bradley, went to see what he wanted and Bradley said to him that he’d “got a plan” and that “drugs were unfair”.

Bradley told Mr Cullen: “Me and Conroy, who’s got an AK47, we’re going to kill all the drug addicts and drug dealers in Dunblane.”

Prosecutor Sarah Lumsden said: “Mr Cullen quite firmly told the accused that this would not be a good idea, and that he’d get himself into trouble.”

The depute fiscal added that the Cullens knew Bradley, and had also noticed he was heavily intoxicate­d.

She added: “To be quite frank, I don’t think that Mr Cullen thought it was a serious threat at that point.”

However, Bradley continued to talk about a friend having an AK47, and then lifted up his shirt and said: ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

Miss Lumsden said: “Mr Cullen could see what looked like a black handgun tucked into Mr Bradley’s trousers.”

Mr Cullen caught up with his wife, who had walked on, advised her what he had just heard, and the police were contacted.

The next day, July 24 2016, Bradley, who by then had heard that police were looking for him, “presented himself” at Stirling Police Station.

He was detained and told officers the weapon had been “a BB thing” and claimed his actions were meant to have been a joke.

Miss Lumsden said: “The police put to him that such a matter wouldn’t actually be funny to somebody, and he said he was sorry, and that he didn’t know anybody called Conroy who had an AK47. He was thereafter cautioned and charged and made no reply.”

Bradley, of Kilbryde, Dunblane, pleaded guilty to using threatenin­g and abusive behaviour, uttering threats of violence, and lifting his clothing to display an imitation handgun.

Sheriff William Gilchrist deferred sentence for reports until May 9, when Bradley could be jailed, and released him on bail.

Mr Cullen could see what looked like a black handgun tucked into Mr Bradley’s trousers. SARAH LUMSDEN DEPUTE FISCAL

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