A man has been fined for terrifying a group of primary school children in Aberdeen.
Alistair Knox appeared at the city’s sheriff court yesterday and admitted acting in a threatening and abusive manner on July 1 at Miltonfold, Bucksburn. He also admitted assaulting one child by grabbing him by the body.
The court heard that the 45-year-old had been walking his dog when three boys aged under 12 approached him and started to stroke his pet.
Fiscal depute Karen Dow said that Knox did not like this so started to shout and swear at the children who then ran off.
The court heard a short time later, Knox caught up with the children and started to circle them while riding on his push bike.
Knox then grabbed hold of one the boys and started to shout at him demanding to know his name.
Ms Dow said this scared the children who ran to a nearby medical centre for help.
Representing Knox, solicitor Les Green said his client was “somewhat odd” and usually kept himself to himself.
He said that Knox, of 10 Miltonfold, Bucksburn, had not liked the children touching his dog and accepts that he shouted and swore at them to keep away.
Mr Green said that thereafter the children started to call Knox names which struck a nerve with him.
He said that as a result he decided to go and fetch his bike before catching up with them so that he could tell them off.
Mr Green said that things then got out of hand and he regrets assaulting one of the children by grabbing hold of them by the body.
The court heard that as a result of the charges Knox faced his relationship with his partner had since broken down and he was now living alone.
Sheriff Noel McPartlin said that he took into account everything that had been said on Knox’s behalf and fined him a total of £190.