Artists for Maggie’s

A MAN threatened a passenger on a busy Aberdeen to Glasgow train in front of adults and children, stating he would “batter” him, Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

The court heard how Mark Northcott (36), of Pomarium Street, Perth, was travelling to Glasgow and became involved in an altercation with another passenger while on the train.

Depute fiscal Catherine Fraser said: “The accused was swearing and shouting things such as “I’m going to batter you” and “Do you like your teeth?”

“This was reported to a staff member who phoned British Transport Police.”

Ms Fraser said that when the police boarded the train at Perth Railway Station and spoke to Northcott he told them, “I have done nothing – I am going nowhere”. She said that when the officers tried to handcuff Northcott he put his hands behind his back and backed into a corner of the train.

“The accused then began struggling with the officers,” she added.

“The train was busy with adults and children.”

Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said that her client was “mature and old enough” to know better.

“He has seen his GP and has been on Antabuse,” she commented. “He needs to get a grip on himself.” Sentencing Northcott, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him: “It’s patently obvious that you have a problem with alcohol. This behaviour is totally unacceptable.

“There was nowhere this passenger could go – you were both trapped on the train.”

Yesterday, Northcott admitted that on January 29, while travelling on a First Scotrail train between Dundee and Perth, he behaved in a threatening manner in that he shouted and swore.

He also admitted that on the same date and location, he resisted, obstructed and hindered two British Transport Police officers and struggled violently with them.

Northcott was given a community payback order, where he has to carry out 175 hours’unpaid work within six months.

He was also told that he would be under supervision and would have to undergo alcohol treatment – both for a year – as part of the order. Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres will receive part of the proceeds when local artists join forces at a pre-Christmas event at Dunkeld’s Atholl Arms Hotel this weekend.

Works for sale on Saturday and Sunday will include paintings, felt work, botanical prints, scarves, cards, candles, jewellery, stained glass, and home baking and knitting.

A percentage of food and drink sales will also go to Maggie’s Centres.

Mark Northcott leaving Perth Sheriff Court after receiving a community payback order.