Man was attacked following bike theft
Shortly after his bike was stolen in Perth city centre, a man was subjected to a“random and unprovoked attack”during which he was robbed of his wallet and a set of keys.
Forty-five-year-old William Black pretended to be a Good Samaritan and said he could assist in getting the bike back.
But he suddenly turned on Stephen Patterson, a complete stranger, put him in a headlock and demanded money.
Depute fiscal Lisa Marshall told Perth Sheriff Court that Black then began“rummaging through his pockets.”
In a separate incident, Black, of Greyfriars House, Princes Street, threatened an off-duty police officer who witnessed him searching through a car near the Marks and Spencer store.
As Ursula Honeyman followed the accused, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, he turned and shouted:“Don’t keep following me or I’ll knock you out.”
She was undeterred but he then screamed: “Don’t f***ing come near me - I’ll f***ing slit your throat with a knife.”
Black left the area but he was traced in Skinnergate and was arrested.
He was jailed for a total of 14 months when he appeared for sentence.
Sheriff Neil Bowie told him:“Because of the gravity of these offences, combined with your previous convictions, custody is the only option.”
Black admitted assaulting and robbing Mr Patterson in Perth’s Canal Street on April 24, 2020.
He also shouted and swore, made violent threats and placed Ms Honeyman in a state of fear and alarm in Mill Street on June 13, 2020.
He was subject to a March 23, 2020, bail order at the time.
The court heard that the first incident took place about 11pm on a Friday night.
He was sitting in High Street, with his bike close to him, when it was stolen by another man.
Black then approached and had a conversation with him, stating he could help.
They went to Canal Street where Black shouted up to a flat in an attempt to retrieve the missing bike.
But Mr Patterson was then attacked and robbed.
A member of the public witnessed the ongoing incident and the police were contacted.
The second incident happened about 10am as the off-duty officer came out of the store.
“She noticed the accused rummaging in the back seat of a vehicle parked at the locus,” explained the fiscal.
She quickly realised it was not Black’s car and ordered him to“get out”
When he did, he was“slurring his words and stumbling about”.
She called 999 and followed him as he made off but he then gave her a volley of abusive threats.
Solicitor David Holmes conceded his client was at the custodial threshold and was“no stranger” to jail sentences.
“He was previously seriously ill in hospital because of a drug problem and wasn’t expected to survive,”he added.
“He was clearly under the influence of drugs and has no memory of what he said and what he did.”
The lawyer appealed to the sheriff to consider deferring sentence for a Drug Treatment and Testing Order.
But Sheriff Bowie said that was unrealistic given the circumstances and jailed him for 10 months on the robbery charge, with another four months added for the threats.