RAF veteran shouted at ‘nuisance’ youths through traffic cone

A retired RAF veteran “lost his composure” and shouted at teenagers through a traffic cone then challenged them to a fight in an altercation outside his home.

Ian Burton appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday, pleading guilty to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by shouting, swearing and acting aggressively at Fowler Street, Cellardyke.

However, the Fife pensioner denied that he had assaulted a 13-year-old boy by seizing his shoulders, shaking and dragging him, and that he possessed an offensive weapon.

His not guilty pleas to those charges were accepted.

The court heard that the 61-year-old, who had spent 25 years in the RAF, was taunted by the youths who called him derogatory names and blew e-cigarette smoke in his face on October 12.

He then picked up a baseball bat from his home, but “did not intend to use it”, defence solicitor Callum Cox said.

Mr Cox explained: “He is completely unknown to the court and is of good character.

“On the date in question there was a group of youths making a nuisance outside his home.

“He left his home, trying to defuse that, and wanted to ask them to desist.

“The group of youths did not respond as Mr Burton hoped.”

The court heard that Burton picked up a traffic cone and shouted through it.

Mr Cox added: “As the confrontation escalated one of the youths approached him and blew e-cigarette smoke in his face.

“He placed his hands on the complainer in the belief he was making a citizen’s arrest.

“When he attempted to seize the complainer, the boy broke free.

“He accepts he completely lost his composure at that point and went into the house to retrieve a baseball bat. He said it was purely the last straw, to get the boys to leave. He did not intend to use it.

“The group were still throwing abuse at him and Mr Burton contacted police himself, as he felt that the conduct of the youths merited intervention.”

Sheriff McFarlane deferred sentencing until February 28 for Burton to be of good behaviour.