An Aberdeen business owner has been warned he faces jail after he produced a knife during a late night row in Aberdeen city centre.
Martin Gammie appeared at the city’s sheriff court yesterday and admitted having the weapon on February 16 this year.
The court heard Gammie, who owns his own painting and decorating business, had been out drinking in town with an old friend when they left a pub and started to walk up Union Street.
According to his solicitor, Les Green, Gammie found the kitchen knife lying on the pavement and, rather than just leave it there, decided to pick it up and put it in his back pocket.
However, a short while later another man approached the 38-year-old and his friend and tried to get them to fight.
In order to try to break up the argument Gammie produced the knife from his back pocket for a “split second” and then put it back when the tactic succeeded, said Mr Green.
Fiscal depute David Bernard told the court the incident was caught on police CCTV and officers headed to the scene to see what was going on.
They handcuffed Gammie before searching him and found the knife in his back pocket.
Mr Green urged Sheriff Graeme Napier to deal with the matter without imposing a custodial sentence, saying the offence was out of character.
He stressed that as Gammie employed three other people, a prison sentence would have an impact on their lives too.
“There was no suggestion that he took the knife out with him,” he said. “He found it on Union Street and his friend encouraged him to pick it up.
“He only took it out for a split second and it had the desired affect and the attack ceased.”
However Sheriff Napier said he had to consider jailing Gammie, of 153 Jesmond Drive, Aberdeen, as the situation could have spiralled out of control.
He said: “I expect your solicitor explained how serious this matter is. What would you have done if the person kept coming at you?
“I see the results of incidents like this and more often than not it ends up with people lying on a mortuary slab.”
Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports to be carried out.