A man whose “jocular” karaoke dance routine got him thrown out of an Aberdeen pub told police he would “burn down” the bar.
Edward Tevendale, 50, was out celebrating his birthday with family and friends at Wilson’s Sports Bar when he was ejected for dancing exuberantly to the music from the karaoke machine.
When police arrived and arrested Tevendale he told them he would “find out where they lived” and burn down their homes.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Tevendale then shouted that he was also “going to burn down Wilson’s”.
His solicitor told the court that Tevendale had been enjoying the karaoke when he was asked to leave the pub due to his “jocular” dancing.
Tevendale, who owns a drainage company, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police constable and acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards officers at Wilson’s Sports Bar.
Accused told cops he would ‘burn’ their houses
Fiscal depute Jen Pritchard told the court that at around 8.50pm on February 9 2020 police attended at the city centre pub on Market Street, Aberdeen, due to a disturbance being reported.
She said police arrived at the bar to find Tevendale outside with staff, having been ejected from the pub.
When police attempted to put handcuffs on Tevendale he pushed an officer towards the road.
“Police then cautioned and arrested the accused,” Ms Pitchard added.
“He replied: ‘I’ll find out where you live and I’ll burn the b****d down.’
“Further police witnesses attended in order to convey the accused to Kittybrewster Police Station and whilst being taken there he stated: ‘I’m going to burn down Wilson’s’.”
He then told officers: “I’m going to find out where you live and burn your houses’.”
‘He accepts he is the author of his own misfortune’
Defence agent Gregor Kelly told the court that Tevendale “accepts his unedifying conduct” outside the bar that night.
He said: “Certainly what he took to be hollow threats would have been frightening to the officers concerned.”
Mr Kelly said that Tevendale had been out celebrating his 48th birthday with family and friends when the next thing he knew he was being removed from the pub.
The solicitor stated: “He accepts to an extent he is the author of his own misfortune but said they were having a good time watching sport and singing karaoke when the manager took umbrage with him dancing in what he describes as a jocular fashion with another male.
“He was summarily ejected and said he was assaulted by members of the bar staff.
“What he says is that his ire was towards those within the bar.
“He doesn’t recall the incident where the officer was pushed but he accepts that happened and he remembers making these dreadful comments.”
Mr Kelly added that Tevendale’s once successful drainage business had taken a “nose dive” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sheriff Shelagh McCall told Tevendale: “You do have a record for this sort of thing but it is a fairly short record.”
She fined Tevendale, of Downie Way, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, a total of £940.
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