OAP critical after ‘chainsaw’ horror

A PENSIONER was last night in a critical condition in hospital after a horror attack in a Highland village.

Neighbours told how they heard the noise of a chainsaw and a woman screaming in the evening incident at the home of Raymond and Flora MacPherson in Caol, near Fort William.

“I was up stairs in my room when I heard a chainsaw,” said one neighbour. “At first, I thought it was someone cutting logs.”

Mr MacPherson, 73, was last night in hospital in Glasgow with serious arm injuries, described as being in a “critical but stable” condition.

His 63-year-old wife was treated at the Belford Hospital, but released soon after the attack on Tuesday at 8.30pm.

A 49 - year - old man was last night reported to the procurator fiscal in connection with the incident at 78 Glenkingie Street. A car parked

“I was upstairs when I heard a chainsaw. At first, I thought it was someone cutting logs”

A man from Lerwick who threatened to “slice the cheeks off” two people while holding a screwdriver has been jailed for nine months.

At Lerwick Sheriff Court yesterday, procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said John Hutcheson, of South Lochside, acted in a “deeply unpleasant” manner that caused terror to the young people who were involved.

The 25-year-old previously admitted shouting and swearing, behaving in an aggressive manner, uttering offensive remarks and demanding controlled substances at addresses in Lerwick’s St Olaf Street and St Magnus Street on May 25.

He thereafter returned and uttered threats of violence while in possession of a screwdriver and a hammer.

Hutcheson also admitted assaulting two girls – then aged 15 and

“He can make a positive contribution”

16 – at the St Olaf St property on the same day by throwing milk.

At St Magnus Street on 26 May, Hutcheson resisted, obstructed or hindered two police constables, struggled with them and escaped from lawful detention.

The fiscal said Hutcheson attended a house around 6.45pm looking for drugs, but it was “clearly” the wrong address. He left, but later returned holding a screwdriver, while a hammer was protruding from his waistband.

He threatened two people by telling them he would “stab them in the eyes” and “slice their cheeks off”.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said: “When he is clean and sober he can make a positive contribution to those around him,” the solicitor said.

Sheriff Philip Mann jailed him for nine months, backdated to May 27.

HIGHLAND HORROR: Police rushed to the scene after neighbours heard the noise of a chainsaw in an incident which also left a car parked outside the property badly damaged (inset picture)