A Fife teenager who disrupted a football training session before pulling out an eight inch blade has been sentenced.
The boy ran around Gallatown Park in Kirkcaldy, picking up and throwing “various sundry items” including plastic cones and sports equipment.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted acting threateningly on August 3 this year.
He was tracked down by one of the coaches who retrieved the equipment he messed with.
As the coach returned, a colleague alerted him to the fact the teen was clutching a kitchen knife.
The blade was discarded but later found when police arrived.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, solicitor David Bell described the immature teen as being “a young 17” and said: “In any view, it’s a serious matter.
“It could have led to much more serious consequences.”
As a direct alternative to custody, sheriff Kevin Duffy placed the teen under supervision for two years and told him to complete 160 hours of unpaid work in the next year.
He said: “Your recent behaviour is very concerning for everybody.”
Nightmare neighbour banned
A ‘nightmare’ neighbour who threatened to murder a police sergeant during a drunken outburst at a Perthshire farm has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.
Grant Hunter drove to the steading near Abernethy while more than four times the drink-drive limit.
The 39-year-old ranted and brandished a Stanley Knife, before getting back in his car and shouting: “I’m going to ram it.”
Hunter appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted drink-driving and acting in a threatening or abusive manner at Jamesfield Farm, near his former home, on May 20.
Last year, he was ordered by the court not to go near another set of neighbours, after he churned up part of their garden with an industrial digger.
Construction worker Hunter was banned from the road for 26 months and sentenced to 280 hours of unpaid work.
Animal neglect
A neglectful dog owner whose Belgian Shepherd had to be put to sleep because of untreated injuries has been banned from keeping pets for two years.
Jason McAndrew’s nine-year-old dog Mac died after his wounds became infected.
McAndrew, 45, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and admitted causing his dog unnecessary suffering and failing to provide appropriate care and treatment.
The court heard the dog had fractured teeth, an infected wound and dermatitis.
McAndrew, of Marketgait, Arbroath, pled guilty to a charge of causing suffering “by act or omission” between October 8 and 22, 2020.
As well as being banned from keeping animals, he was fined £150.
The sentence has been criticised by the Scottish SPCA, which had hoped for a longer ban.
Cleared of intent to rape
A man has been acquitted of sexually assaulting a woman at a Dunfermline house party.
Ciar McGilviray went on trial this week accused of seizing the woman’s neck, putting his fingers into her mouth causing her to gag, pulling down her underwear and sexually assaulting her with intent to rape.
The 26-year-old building site manager from the Rumblingwell area of Dunfermline, strenuously denied the allegation and said their sexual contact was consensual.
Under questioning from defence lawyer Chris Sneddon, a tearful McGilviray said: “It’s something I would never do.
“I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. I would never hurt a female.”
Jurors at Dunfermline Sheriff Court took just 30 minutes to return a not proven verdict by majority on Thursday.
McGilviray was visibly emotional outside of court afterwards.
Man ‘went a bit mad’
A Forfar man who “went a bit mad at his neighbours” has been given a suspended sentence.
Caleb Fegan, 20, shouted abuse at his long-suffering neighbour from his house window on Dundee Loan last October.
Sheriff Derek Reekie described the act as “pretty horrible”.
As he was being arrested, Fegan, told officers he had “went a bit mad at his neighbours”.
He admitted shouting, swearing and threatening to kill Kieran Gillet on October 27.
He will return for sentencing in three months.
The full caseload of the Dundee Crime and Courts Team can be found here and you can join the conversation on our Facebook group.
