A beggar who had previously appeared in a film with Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson was jailed for injecting an “unknown substance” into a man’s leg in the street.
The city’s sheriff court heard Billy Macaskill, 45, of Adamson Court, was an extra in the movie Under The Skin, which was filmed in Angus and other Scottish locations in 2011.
Macaskill had previously admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner by injecting an unknown substance into the leg of Brian Duggan, to the fear and alarm of Jordan Brown and Samantha Angulo, and committing a breach of the peace in Seagate on April 14.
After he was jailed for three months, solicitor Larry Flynn told the court Macaskill had led “a difficult life, but also a very colourful life”.
One of his better moments, Mr Flynn said, “was when he was an extra in a film with Scarlett Johansson, which was filmed in this area. Not many people can say that”.
The court was told that at 6.40pm on April 14, Mr Brown and Ms Angulo were walking past Macaskill and Mr Duggan in Seagate and saw the accused injecting something into Mr Duggan’s left calf.
The witnesses were alarmed, concerned and frightened by this, the court was told. Police were called and Macaskill was arrested.
Mr Flynn said Macaskill was in his usual begging spot and was “very embarrassed because Mr Brown and Ms Angulo were known to him and they were previously very supportive to him”.
“He has had an alcohol problem for most of his adult life,” he added. “He admitted his guilt from the earliest possible time.”
Ms Johansson spent five days at Auchmithie harbour shooting for sci-fi thriller Under The Skin.
A film crew of more than 70 descended on the village, with local residents asked not to give away any details of Ms Johansson’s presence.
The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Scottish-based writer Michel Faber, and sees Ms Johansson’s alien character combing the streets of Scotland for hitch-hikers and dropouts to seduce before eventually consuming them.
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