A man threatened to kill his parents and told police he believed Dutch Government officials were trying to end his life.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how Barry Davidson, 42, c/o Foundry Lane, Perth, had been living in Amsterdam but decided to visit his parents without notice at their Fair City home.
However, his parents became alarmed by his “strange” behaviour during his stay there.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said: “The accused arrived at his mother and step-father’s house on March 28 unannounced and told them he would be staying until April 3. However, both parents became concerned when their son began acting in a strange manner.
“On the evening of March 28, they said it appeared their son was laughing hysterically while looking at a blank TV screen.”
Ms Whyte told the court that both parents went out the following day only to return to find Davidson had put pots on their cooker which were burning.
“They could hear the accused muttering about his step-father and how he believed a bus driver he had encountered was a policeman and that an E-cigarette he had was full of poison,” Ms Whyte continued.
“The accused then frequently threatened violence towards his step-father but his mother managed to defuse the situation. However, on March 30, the accused’s behaviour was again causing his parents concern, with his mother in constant fear that she and her husband would be harmed or Davidson would burn their house down after he told them he was going to kill them.
“Due to being exhausted by their son’s strange behaviour, they contacted the police at 6.45pm on March 31. When officers arrived at the house they found both parents crying and begging them for help.”
Both parents were aged 65 at the time of the offence.
The court heard that the police thought Davidson was under the influence of alcohol but was not drunk.
“Police found the accused to be loud and animated and he told them he believed the Dutch Government was trying to kill him,” Ms Whyte said.
“Officers tried to get the accused to engage with the police mental health crisis team but he refused and instead went into a room in the house occupied by his parents and told them, ‘You’ll not be here tomorrow.’”
The court was told that Davidson was arrested and then underwent a mental health assessment which found he was fit to attend court for the case.
Davidson, who represented himself, claimed there had been some “disagreements” with his parents but stated he had only said what he said “in exasperation.”
“I am deeply sorry for my behaviour and this episode,” he said.
“I did have a bit of a stressful period but I have taken responsibility for my actions. I will now be living and working in London in a job involving information technology.”
Davidson admitted that between March 29 and 31 at an address in Oakbank Road, Perth, he shouted, swore and uttered threats of violence toward his mother and step-father.
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence on Davidson until December 5 for him to be of good behaviour but told the accused his behaviour caused him concern as it was not “normal.”
