Knifeman jailed

A MAN wielding a knife and chasing people through a busy Oban hotel has been jailed for more than two years. Full story

A KILMELFORD man who went on a drink- and drugsfuelled rampage with a knife in an Oban hotel, punched and chased an employee, and threatened to throw him off the roof, has been jailed for 28 months.

Andrew Davidson, 21, of 38 The Glebe, Kilmelford, pleaded guilty to assault on September 29, 2016, plus two further charges of having a knife without reasonable excuse or authority, and of uttering threats of violence to a police officer, and threats of a sexual nature towards his wife.

Andrew Davidson appeared at Oban Sheriff Court on Monday May 8 with his brother, Christopher, also accused of the first two charges, but dismissed after his not guilty pleas were accepted.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty said 120 guests were in the hotel, and the employee was in staff accommodation with his girlfriend when, at around 11.30pm, Andrew Davidson, accompanied by Christopher, entered reception carrying a fire extinguisher, demanding to see ‘another member of staff who was not on duty’.

‘[The employee] repeatedly asked the accused to stop shouting,’ Mr McGinty added, but Andrew Davidson refused, shouting: ‘If you call the police, I will come back with another 10 guys, and I will kill you.’

‘As [the employee] was attempting to phone the police, the accused pulled the phone cable from the wall,’ Mr McGinty continued. ‘ The accused punched [the employee] repeatedly on the head. In the confusion, the accused then produced a knife.’

Sheriff Ruth Anderson QC described the knife as 16 to 18 inches long, with a blade twothirds that length. The fiscal said: ‘He then passed the knife to his brother. That knife was then taken from the accused’s brother, and hidden by a member of staff.

‘The guests were ushered back to their rooms,’ Mr McGinty added, and the employee and his girlfriend ran from the reception back to their flat, but ‘they had been followed by the accused, who began to shout outside the door and began to kick and bang at the door. The door was broken open, having been struck by the fire extinguisher.

‘Fearing for themselves,’ Mr McGinty continued, the couple ‘climbed out of a window and onto a roof. [She] thought her life was in danger. The accused caught up with [the employee]. He was repeatedly punched and kicked on the head. During the assault he was told repeatedly he would be thrown off the roof.’ The court heard it was the first floor roof of the restaurant.

Once caught by police, the accused shouted: ‘Get off me you pig b******s. I know you.’ At Oban police office after his arrest, Mr McGinty said: ‘He repeatedly referred to the police officer’s wife by name. He said, “I know your wife”, and mentioned her first name.’ The court heard he then uttered threats of a sex- ual nature towards her, adding: ‘I know where you live. Just wait till I am out. I will end yous.’

Mr McGinty added: ‘The accused seemed off his head on something. “He looked off his nut” was the phrase used.’

Defence agent Edward Thornton said: ‘He was out of control because of an excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs. He had been taking cocaine. This was a habit that had started in prison. His recollection is not very clear.

‘He realises he is at a crossroads. He had made serious efforts to turn his life around. He has weaned himself off drugs for the past two to three months and he has obtained employment.’

Sentencing, Sheriff Ruth Anderson QC said: ‘I do not think there is any need for a report. I have a clear narrative, as well as a full schedule of convictions.

‘This was disgraceful behaviour. The incident lasted a long time: you continued your aggressive behaviour from the hotel to Oban police station. It involved threats of a serious nature. It is fortunate for you [the employee] did not suffer any injury.’

She imprisoned Andrew Davidson for 24 months for assault, six months to run concurrently for having the knife, and an extra four months to run consecutively for making sexual threats to the policeman’s wife. ‘I take a serious view of this,’ she said. ‘Police can expect abuse – that goes with the job. But this goes above and beyond that.’