A man who ran through a hospital threatening to cut off his own testicles – then stole a gas and air canister from an ambulance days later has been jailed.
Andrew Bryson made the threat after being told he was being released from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee last November.
He told nurses he had a knife – then went in to the main atrium of the building and told passers by he was “going to cut off his own testicles”.
Bryson was then arrested and appeared in court the next day charged with behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.
He got out on bail – but the following night got involved in another bizarre altercation.
An ambulance was called to a neighbour’s flat – and while it sat outside unlocked he snuck in and stole a canister of entinox, better known as gas and air or laughing gas.
Police then turned up at his flat where cops found him holding a knife, which he used to try and stab the gas canister.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: “He was extremely agitated and stabbed the canister with a large kitchen knife in an attempt to pierce it.
“Officers used CS spray on him but this didn’t stop him.
“He brandished the knife towards police and was then struck with a baton.”
Bryson, 37, a prisoner at HMP Perth, pleaded guilty on indictment to charges of theft and behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on November 17 last year in Dundee’s Barnes Avenue.
He further admitted behaving in a threatening and abusive manner at Ninewells Hospital on November 15, on summary complaint.
Defence solicitor David Duncan said: “The whole scenario was him reaching rock bottom effectively.
“He has to accept there is only one suitable disposal and that is custody.
“He has been working with services in the prison and will continue to do so.”
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael imposed a jail term of 10 months.
He said: “The only appropriate sentence is custody.”