A teenager, who pulled out a knife and threatened to cut a girl’s throat before pushing her down stairs, has had his sentence deferred for good behaviour.
Ryan Finlayson, 18, of Badenoch Place, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court where he was ordered to remain at home between the hours of 7pm and 7am for six months as part of his sentence for a separate offence in December, in which he spat on a woman and shouted and swore at police officers.
The court had previously heard how Finlayson had stabbed a door with the knife after making the threat to the girl in a Dundee flat in June.
Violence broke out after the girl had asked Finlayson to leave and he refused.
He pulled a knife out of his pocket, told her he was going to “cut her throat”, then stabbed the door with the knife.
Finlayson then left the flat and turned and spat on the front door.
He kicked a window in the common close and the girl went into the close to get him to leave.
He then pushed the girl down some stairs.
Defence solicitor John Boyle said the incident happened “in a background of fairly heavy drinking” by Finlayson.
He added: “This led to offending behaviour and he has addressed this issue.
“He is getting medical assistance for his mental health issues.
“His concern of going to custody is considerable and he would be vulnerable given his mental health difficulties.”
Finlayson had sentence deferred for good behaviour.
Sheriff Tom Hughes said: “For the more serious matter, I’m going to hold the position for six months to see if you comply with the restriction of liberty order and you don’t drink like you did in the past.
“If you don’t comply, you are going to custody — no matter how vulnerable you think you will be.”
Finlayson was handed a restriction of liberty order for six months, which means he has to remain at home between 7pm and 7am for an incident in December.
He pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing, threatening people and police officers with violence and damage garden lighting at Balunie Crescent and Douglas Road, on December 12.
On the same date, at Balunie Crescent, he admitted assaulting a woman and spitting on her head.
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