A PERTHSHIRE man sparked panic after he brandished a gun in a doctor’s surgery, Perth Sheriff Court heard yesterday.

Dishevelled and smelling strongly of stale alcohol, 41-year-old Scott McEwan entered the practice in Errol before drawing what had initially appeared to be a real firearm.

That action drew an instant response from police, with armed officers descending on the area.

After apprehending McEwan they discovered the weapon was in fact a BB gun, which fires pellets.

Perth Sheriff Court heard McEwan had spent the morning target shooting in his home before slipping the gun into his pocket.

His solicitor claimed that, such was his client’s state of mind at the time, he had then simply “forgotten” the gun was in his possession before attending at the surgery later that day.

Depute Fiscal Robbie Brown said the accused had entered the practice at around 2pm, smelling strongly of stale alcohol.

“He also appeared to witnesses to be under the influence of medication of some sort. He asked to see a doctor immediately but was told this was impossible,” Mr Brown said.

The court heard McEwan had then entered into a rambling discourse with the surgery’s receptionist, talking at length about his medication, previous hospital treatment and also problems with his neighbours.

He then shocked her by pulling what appeared to be a black handgun from his pocket.

“It was a fairly good replica of an automatic pistol and on first look it may very well have appeared to be a real gun,” Mr Brown said.

However, he added, “There is no suggestion that the gun was pointed at the receptionist.

“She formed the opinion that he had pulled it out to indicate what he was going to do to his neighbour to solve their dispute.”

McEwan returned the gun to his pocket as he was confronted by a doctor but on being asked about the gun by the doctor, brought it out for a second time before appearing to cock the firearm.

He left the premises moments later, by which time the doctor had formed the opinion that the gun was possibly a replica.

However, Mr Brown said, “Given that the incident involved a firearm, trained police officers had to be deployed.

“They were taking no chances.”

McEwan was apprehended and took officers to the gun—which they quickly ascertained was a BB gun

Yesterday McEwan, of Norlands, Errol, admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner at Errol Surgery on February 18 this year by entering the public reception area in possess- ion of a BB gun, placing members of staff in a state of fear and alarm, and committing a breach of the peace.

Explaining his client’s actions, solicitor David Holmes admitted that McEwan had an alcohol problem.

He said, “This is clearly the case of someone who is not thinking in the way they would were they fully compos mentis.

“Mr McEwan had forgotten that the BB gun was in his back pocket. He did not pull it out to frighten anyone.”

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis ordered McEwan to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work and placed him on an 18-month probation order—with the special condition that he undertake alcohol counselling.