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Man who abused neighbours and made IRA threat was caught when he fell from a tree

Richard Ettles leaving Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
Richard Ettles leaving Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

A north-east man who abused his neighbours then ran from the police was caught when officers heard rustling – and saw him fall out of a tree.

Richard Ettles had attempted to flee the scene following an argument in Bucksburn on Sunday, June 2.

After being apprehended, he compounded his folly by referencing a terrorist organisation as he threatened a police officer.

The 40-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, having pleaded guilty to acting in a threatening or abusive manner.

Fiscal depute Anne MacDonald said the chain of events was sparked by Ettles knocking on the door of a neighbour’s house on the city’s Altdubh Place.

“It was a Sunday evening at around 8.15pm and they were at home when the accused came round to their back door,” she said.

“He asked if they had complained to their housing company about him.

“They noted the accused seemed to have a strong smell of alcohol coming off him.”

The couple told Ettles they had not raised any concerns and closed the door, prompting Ettles to begin “aggressively” banging on the door.

“They thought it was going to be forced open,” Mrs MacDonald said.

The residents called the police, telling them Ettles had been trying to kick their door down.

By the time officers arrived, about 15 minutes later, he appeared to have fled the scene.

Mrs MacDonald, however, told the court they were able to locate the suspect soon after.

“Police heard movement then spotted him up a tree,” she said.

“He ended up, unfortunately, falling out of the tree because of his alcohol consumption.”

As he was being taken to Kittybrewster police station, Ettles made reference to one of the officers who had a Scottish accent.

Mrs MacDonald said: “He became unruly and started shouting and swearing.

“At one point he said: ‘I will burn you with the IRA’.”

Solicitor Lynne Bentley said Ettles had drunk “too much” alcohol on the day of the incident.

She added that he is partway through a previously-imposed order of 120 hours of unpaid work, and that the latest progress report about him from social workers was “mixed but fairly positive”.

Sheriff Ian Wallace ordered Ettles, of Altdubh Place, to carry out a further 60 hours of unpaid work within six months.

He was also placed under the supervision of social workers for a year.