A teenager who threatened mourners in a Perth pub has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.
Aaron Muteithia had been drinking in Christies Bar in Kinnoull Street when a number of people appeared after attending a funeral.
Tensions between the 19-year-old and the party grew, leading to the accused being asked to leave because of his drunken state.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how, before he was thrown out of the pub, Muteithia caused “some consternation” as he spoke to the mourners.
Depute fiscal John Malpass said, “The accused had left the premises and walked away. However, he was met by a friend driving a motor vehicle who offered him a lift. While within the vehicle he became more incensed and asked to be taken back to the premises.”
Unaware that Muteithia had been thrown out of the bar, his friend drove to Christies and dropped him off, leaving the accused to try to gain entry once again. His efforts proved unsuccessful, however, as the stewarding staff who had originally asked him to leave recognised the teenager and told him he was not getting back in.
At this point the accused began shouting threats at members of the funeral party, telling them that he was going to “slit their throats.”
As a result the targets of his abuse attempted to leave the building to confront him but were stopped by the doormen.
Shortly afterwards Muteithia returned to his friend’s car and they drove off, although the registration number was later used to trace the teenager.
Defence agent David Holmes told the court his client had been reacting to an alleged assault that had taken place inside the pub.
Muteithia, of Kinnoull Street, admitted that on May 10 at Christies Bar he committed a breach of the peace by shouting, swearing and making threats to the fear and alarm of people at the bar.
Sentencing the teenager, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told him that it was the “last throw of the dice.”
“If you do not make a fist of this then I do not see any other realistic option other than to impose periods of custody,” he said. “I have been left in no doubt that, as far as I’m concerned, it will be significant periods.
“What I am proposing today, and I have to say with considerate reluctance, is to make you the subject of a community payback order.”
Sheriff Foulis ordered Muteithia to carry out the maximum 240 hours’ community service and also banned him from entering Christies for two years.