The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

Jail sentence for knife wielding robber who spat at police officers

Offender followed victim and stole a bank card and pin details

- Nadia vidinova

On this tasty tour we spend a delicious day at Cadbury World, fulfilling the dreams of chocoholic­s everywhere as we explore the fourteen themed zones. We also get a unique insight to the world of a gin distiller when we head to the 45 Gin School. Here we learn the fine art of distilling before exploring this facility and having a taste! A man who robbed a vulnerable neighbour at knifepoint, spat at police officers and called them racist and homophobic names has been jailed for a year and nine months.

Aaron Wallace followed his victim, who has a learning disability and mental health issues, and stole his bank card, pin details, keys and £6 in cash.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard the 33-year-old also spat at and threatened police officers and acted in a racially aggravated manner when he called one of them a stupid Australian.

Wallace also wasted the emergency services’ time by claiming he had been stabbed and asking for an ambulance when this was not the case.

Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said his client suffered from mental health problems and drug and alcohol issues.

He said: “Regretfull­y he doesn’t remember much of these episodes.

“The (social work and criminal justice) report touches on mental health difficulti­es and difficulti­es with drugs and alcohol.

“There was tension in his relationsh­ip

The (social work and criminal justice) report touches on mental health difficulti­es and difficulti­es with drugs and alcohol. DEFENCE SOLICITOR BILLY RENNIE

with his partner and he had just not been coping with the unravellin­g of the relationsh­ip.

“He was admitted to Carseview in April and was there for two weeks. He was back in May through to June.”

Mr Rennie suggested his client would be willing to comply with a community payback order. However, Sheriff Carmichael ruled that the “only option” was a custodial sentence.

Wallace’s victim was said to have been left so anxious after being robbed that he moved home.

He had been reading a magazine in the common close of the block of flats they both lived in on Old Halkerton Road, Forfar, when Wallace began hurling abuse at him.

Wallace pulled out a blade and followed him, demanding cash and the man’s bank card and pin, holding a knife to his chest.

Wallace admitted the offence, which happened on July 6.

He also admitted wasting police and paramedics’ time on January 9 at his former home at Gilston Place, Dundee, by giving false details and falsely stating he was bleeding after being stabbed, as well as acting in a threatenin­g and abusive manner.

Wallace also admitted acting in a threatenin­g and abusive manner in a police vehicle and assaulting an officer by spitting at him on January 3.

Sheriff Carmichael jailed him for 21 months, backdated to July 7.

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