A Dundee man who brandished a knife at a gang of “neds” to protect his pregnant sister was admonished after a court heard they may have caused her baby brain damage.
Matthew McLaughlan was chased into his flat by what was described as an “evilly disposed riotous mob” of between 20 and 30 drunken youths after trying to rescue his sister.
“Harrowing” footage shot by the body camera of a community warden was shown to the court of McLaughlan and his cousin being chased by a screaming, violent mob as two “courageous” wardens attempted to stop the boozed up yobs chasing him into the building.
McLaughlan picked up a knife dropped by one of the gang and brandished it at them.
The court heard the street had been plagued by young yobs for a lengthy period.
McLaughlan’s mother called him to say the gang had reformed and the 30-year-old went to confront them.
He was chased by the raging crowd back in to the close as one warden attempted to keep the teens out.
Depute fiscal Vicki Bell told the court one managed to get in to the building.
The boy dropped the foot-long kitchen knife in the close which McLaughlan then picked up and waved at shoulder height out of the door of the close to scare the mob off.
McLaughlan, 31, of Dundonald Street, Dundee, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing a knife and committing a breach of the peace on May 15 on Malcolm Street in Dundee.
Defence solicitor Nicola Brown said: “The accused’s pregnant sister had come out from the flat to try to help him but he and his cousin were jostled back inside and she was left in the street.
“His sister’s child was later born and has difficulties and she was asked if she had suffered a trauma during pregnancy.
“She says she was punched and kicked in this incident and it looks like the baby may have suffered brain damage.
“Ordinarily he’d be looking at a lengthy custodial sentence but what went on that day involving the youths was totally unacceptable.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown said: “The community wardens involved here deserved to be given high praise for their courage and for their exemplary performance in the face of an extremely frightening situation.
“You were in the situation in which your sister, particularly vulnerable due to her pregnancy, was outside with a riotous mob of evilly disposed persons.
“I do know that this is a wholly exceptional case and you will be admonished.”