A thug who subjected a vulnerable neighbour to a terrifying knife robbery has been jailed for 21 months.
Aaron Wallace found the man — who has a learning disability and mental health issues — reading a magazine in the common close of the block of flats they both lived in at Old Halkerton Road, Forfar.
Wallace first hurled abuse at his victim before pulling out a blade and following the man into his home as he tried to back off.
The brute then demanded cash and the man’s bank card and PIN number as he held the knife to the terrified victim’s chest, before telling him he was “connected to the police” and told him not to phone them.
However his victim called 999 and Wallace was found minutes later carrying the stolen card.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie told Dundee Sheriff Court the 26-year-old was left “traumatised” by his ordeal and had to move home as a result.
She said: “The accused made various threats during the incident about stabbing the complainer.
“The complainer became increasingly concerned and said at one point the blade was very close to his upper chest. The accused said he was going to ‘stab him like a pig’ and said to hand over his money.”
Wallace, 33, a prisoner at HMP Perth, admitted the July 6 robbery and assault.
He further admitted two charges of wasting police and paramedics’ time on January 9, at his former home in Dundee’s Gilston Place, by stating he was Paul Davis, aged 34, and had been stabbed with a knife, was bleeding and was in need of emergency assistance from police and the ambulance service.
The charge stated that he deprived the public of those services and rendered others to suspicion and accusation of assault to severe injury.
He also admitted acting aggressively and threatening violence towards police.
Defence solicitor Billy Rennie said: “In all likelihood he accepts there’s an inevitable conclusion given the charge and his record. He has not been sent to prison for more than 10 years.
“There was a significant gap in his offending since 2007.”
He added that Wallace himself had suffered from mental health problems, plus drug and alcohol abuse.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.