A Perth sheriff said he had to make “a calculation worthy of Alan Turing” when sentencing a serial criminal.
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis was forced to absent himself from the court to work out an appropriate sentence in four cases involving Perth man Drew Anderson, who is already serving a 10-month sentence at Polmont young offenders’ institution.
After applying the required discounts to account for Anderson’s guilty pleas, plus adding a further months of imprisonment for breaches of bail, Sheriff Foulis ordered him to spend a total of more than four and a half years behind bars.
Anderson had pled guilty to a number of offences, including armed robbery and causing a siege in Perth city centre.
The 20-year-old was high on drugs and “had no memory” of spending three hours on a window ledge at Skinnergate House homeless hostel.
Depute fiscal Matthew Kerr told Perth Sheriff Court Anderson had become agitated at around 9.30am and had been asked to calm down by a member of staff.
He said: “The accused stated he would slash him across the belly and started to kick a door.
“A request was made for police to be contacted and thereafter the accused was seen banging on a bedroom door while shouting and swearing.
“Police officers attended at 11am. The accused was traced standing on a window ledge, shouting and swearing. This led to a three hour siege-style situation involving police, negotiators, ambulance staff and fire fighters.”
Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said Anderson had taken “substances” and “has no memory and had no decision making capacity thereafter.”
Anderson also appeared in the dock with a co-accused, Aaron McMillan in relation to the armed robbery of two convenience stores in Perth.
He had brandished a knife at the shopkeepers, while McMillan threatened them with a bottle.
They made off from both sites with more than £500 in cash, two bottles of Buckfast and a quantity of cigarettes.
They were caught after shop staff in the first store recognised Anderson, who was a regular customer.
Anderson admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at Skinnergate House on June 14 last year.
He further admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner by smashing up his cell and threatening to cut his own throat and the throats of prison officers at Polmont young offenders’ institution on December 31 2017, and to assaulting a member of staff there by punching him in the face on February 16 2018.
Along with McMillan, 29, a prisoner at Perth, he admitted assaulting and robbing staff at Mina’s newsagent on North Methven Street and at South Street News, both Perth, on October 24 last year.
Sheriff Foulis sentenced Anderson to 56 months in prison, while McMillan must serve four years. Both will remain on licence for two years after their release.
