A bloodstained knifeman forced children to use their scooters to flee for their lives.
The boys, aged 13 and 14, feared they were going to be stabbed by Murray Prior when he pulled a pair of scissors on them.
But Prior – who was drunk or high on drugs – let the weapon slip from his hand and the youngsters took the opportunity to escape.
Prior, 36, was wandering the streets of Tayport with a knife “the length of his forearm” when he initially approached the boys.
He then pulled a pair of scissors out of his trousers and presented it in a manner which made the children believe he planned to attack them.
Avoided prison and curfew
At Dundee Sheriff Court, Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown noted social workers suggested there might be an option to deal with Prior without sending him to prison.
She placed him on a structured deferred sentence for three months and removed bail curfew conditions which had required him to stay indoors overnight.
Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, had told the court his client had a number of issues which would require help from social workers.
Prior, from Tayport, admitted approaching the boys while brandishing a knife before taking scissors from his pocket in a threatening way.
He also admitted acting aggressively, banging a gate, shouting and swearing and threatening to stab the public while he was carrying weapons and possessing offensive weapons on December 14 2021.
He was arrested after the boys told their parents and police were contacted.
Knife ‘the length of his forearm’
Fiscal depute Lynn Mannion told the court: “The accused consumed a bottle of wine at his mother’s home. He was in possession of two bottles of wine.
“She later received a phone call from the accused but there was a lot of noise and she couldn’t make out what he was saying.
“Witnesses in a garden were aware of him standing behind a gate.
“They formed the opinion he was under the influence of drugs or drink as he was swaying and couldn’t stand up straight.
“They saw he was holding a large knife, the length of his forearm, and a pair of scissors.
“He shouted and swore and said ‘I’ll stab you’.
“The boys were standing outside a store with their scooters when they saw a male walking towards them with a knife.
“They tried to ignore him.
“He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out scissors in a manner that made them think he was going to stab them.
“He dropped the scissors on the ground and, as he bent down, they managed to escape on their scooters.
“The accused had blood on his face.”
When police caught up with Prior they established that he was “clearly under the influence” and found the weapons in his sink.
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