A “show off” teenager who went out in two Perthshire towns armed with a 40cm machete has been given a last chance to turn his life around – or face a “merry-go-round of court appearances”.
Jamie Vandenberg, 19, hid the huge blade inside his trousers when he hung out with pals in Alyth town centre.
He kept the weapon concealed when he took a bus to Blairgowrie and tried to get into a pub.
Vandenberg, who was 17 at the time, returned to Perth Sheriff Court this week having earlier admitted having a bladed weapon in public on October 23, 2021.
The teenager, of Strathmore View, Alyth, was previously ordered to engage with the Right Track programme for young offenders as part of a structured deferred sentence.
His solicitor Mike Tavendale accepted the latest progress report was “wholly unsatisfactory”.
Opportunities
“It is fair to say there hasn’t been a lot of progress made and things have taken a backwards step,” he said.
“He now has a mobile phone, which should help matters.”
Sheriff William Wood pointed out this was Vandenberg’s third attempt on Right Track.
“This is a disappointing report,” he told the teenager. “It won’t do.”
The sheriff warned: “I can easily terminate this sentence and impose something else.
“I know that you have had a hard time and a difficult upbringing.
“But this is your third time with Right Track. People don’t usually get this type of opportunity.
“At 19, you are in danger of ending up on a merry-go-round of court appearances.
“If you don’t get to grips with this, you could go from one previous conviction to multiple because you won’t know the steps to stay out of trouble.”
The case was continued until August.
Machete tucked into waistband
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie previously told the court that the teenager met two friends at 6pm.
“When they met up, he showed his friends he had a litre bottle of vodka.
“He also showed them he had a machete tucked into his trouser waistband.”
Ms Milne said the youth and his friends sat on benches in the town square before visiting a takeaway.
“One of the workers was informed by a customer that the accused was in possession of a machete,” said Ms Ritchie.
“The worker looked and saw that the accused appeared to have an object concealed in his trouser leg.
“The same witness also observed the accused and his two friends getting on a bus to Blairgowrie.
“He contacted the police.”
The bus arrived in Blairgowrie later that evening.
“The accused still had the machete with him at this time,” said Ms Ritchie.
“The group made their way to a public house but they were denied entry by staff.
“They made their way back to the bus station but the accused went in a different direction.”
Police search
Police approached the two friends and searched them for weapons.
Nothing was recovered but they told police about their friend, who was then traced at 10pm at the bus terminus.
Although he was searched and no longer had the weapon, he was arrested and taken to Perth police station, where he was cautioned and charged.
He volunteered to show officers where he had left the machete – in a bush in Leslie Street.
Mr Tavendale said his client had been “showing off” and had no intention of using the blade.
For the latest court cases across Tayside and Fife, join our Courts Facebook page.
