A teenager brandished a knife at passersby in Aberdeen city centre after being mocked for wearing spectacles.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was passing through Union Street shortly after midnight on Sunday, November 4, when he flew into a rage at the remarks about his appearance.
Fiscal depute Gavin Letford yesterday told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that his “aggressive” behaviour alarmed onlookers and was captured on CCTV.
Mr Letford added: “Police officers arrived and could see that the accused had an item in his hand while running into the road shouting and acting in an aggressive manner.”
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When the teenager was arrested and searched, officers found he had a 2.5 inch long pen knife in his possession.
The youth admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and having a knife in a public place without “lawful authority or reasonable excuse”.
Defence lawyer Gregor Kelly said that the weapon was part of a “multi-tool” device which his client had been using to open beer bottles earlier that night.
Mr Kelly added: “But he accepts that brandishing it in the city centre is a serious matter.
“He had been walking home in an inebriated state and someone made a reference to him wearing spectacles, in a derogatory fashion.
“That is when he took out this pen knife.”
The court heard that the teenager has since tried to “keep away from drinking and bad influences” by going to the gym more and making a greater effort to find a job.
Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill said: “We can’t have a young man running around Union Street with a knife, even if he had it for the purpose of opening a bottle.”
The accused was ordered to remain under supervision for six months and to complete 80 hours of unpaid work in that time.
