Man admits striking colleague with knife

A 23-year-old man has admitted striking his colleague on the face with a knife.

Rhys Gilliland of 361 Main Street, Bonhill, Glasgow, also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing, brandishing a knife, uttering threats of violence, and breaking open a door. The incident occurred on September 4, 2018, within an Oban hotel’s staff accommodation.

Procurator fiscal Eoin McGinty told Oban Sheriff Court on March 12 that Gilliland and the complainer bought whisky and were drinking in the complainer’s room.

Mr McGinty said: ‘The complainer described the accused as having had a few too many.

‘At 9 o’clock the second witness joined and also described the accused, at that point, being unstable and becoming angry.

‘The accused began to swear at them and armed himself. Both people attempted to calm him down, but he began to become increasingly agitated.

‘There then became a point where he pulled down one of the complainers and I believe he had a knife and he felt a slap across his face.

‘The accused was restrained and at that point the complainer realised his face was bleeding. He thought he had been slashed. Subsequently it transpired the slash mark was more described as a scratch; a superficial wound.’

Police were called and found the Gilliland to be in possession of the handle of a knife and were unable to find the blade.

When brought to the charge bar at Oban Police Station, Gilliland replied: ‘All I did tonight was have a drink and be a bit aggressive. What happened was I was in my friend’s house and I got a bit angry with him and I picked up a knife.’

Sheriff Patrick Hughes labelled the incident a ‘disturbing manner’ and called for criminal justice and social work reports, as well as a restriction of liberty assessment.

Sentencing was deferred until April 24.