A man who tried to rob an elderly woman in a bowling club car park — only for the brave OAP to take him inside and call him a taxi instead — has avoided jail.
Dylan Bertie then went to the Tay Road Bridge where he threatened to shoot people and throw them into the water.
Earlier in the day, Bertie had turned up at the Lochee Bowling Club car park in Muirton Road and attacked 75-year-old June Steen.
He demanded her car keys before he grabbed Mrs Steen round the neck.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: “She was terrified and thought the accused was trying to strangle her. He eventually released her but kept demanding her keys.
“She was shaken but asked why he needed a car and he said ‘I’m needing up north to escape’. She could smell alcohol and formed the opinion he was drunk.
“She told the accused to come into the club to see if anyone else had a car. He became increasingly agitated and was asked to leave.
“She called for a taxi and after he left a member of the club asked her to report the matter to police.”
Miss Robertson added that police were later called to the Tay Road Bridge after Bertie was seen using the public intercom stating he would shoot people and throw them into the water.
He told police that “by the time they had drawn their Tasers he would have dropped them all”.
He was told to show his hands as he grabbed at an item in his waistband and was chased down and apprehended, the court was told.
Bertie, 21, of St Mary Place, pleaded guilty on indictment to charges of behaving in a threatening and abusive manner, possessing a police baton and assault and robbery, all committed on August 17 last year.
Solicitor advocate Kris Gilmartin said: “There is no significant mental disorder beyond an alcohol problem.’’
Sheriff Alastair Brown imposed a community payback order with one year’s supervision and an order that Bertie be confined to his home address from 7pm-7am daily for six months. He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation
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