A teenager with bloodied hands approached young girls in a playpark and asked them ‘who is your gang leader’ before asking one ‘can you drop kick?’
Nico Tole’s behaviour – branded ‘bizarre’ by his own solicitor – escalated later the same day when he trashed a delivery driver’s vehicle with a coffee table and then hurled rape threats at police officers.
It was Tole’s second time in the dock this week, having previously admitted his part in a brutal assault and robbery.
Fiscal depute Andrew McMann told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the 18-year-old’s day-long period of offending began in the city’s Ferrier Road playpark, where three 10-year-old girls were playing.
“He approached them and asked who their gang leader was at which point he showed them his hands which were covered in blood and cuts,” Mr McMann said.
“The three girls felt uncomfortable and walked to the other end of the park away from him.
“He attempted to follow them however he fell to the ground.
“When he got to his feet he approached them again and began asking questions like ‘can you drop kick’ and ‘can you show me your hands?’
“He then approached one of the girls and grabbed her on the wrist with his hand and held on to her.
“She managed to pull her arm free from his grip and all three girls ran home and reported the matter.”
Later trashed and stole from car
Tole, meanwhile, made his way to nearby Marquis Road where, acting alongside another person, he got into an argument with a delivery driver before repeatedly headbutting and kicking the man’s white Hyundai car.
“He was then seen to pick up a coffee table, which had been on the road there, and used it to smash the window of the car,” the fiscal added.
“He then stated to the complainer ‘if you touch me I will kill you’ multiple times.”
Tole went on to steal a number of parcels from the car boot before fleeing.
When police traced him later the same day his offending continued.
Mr McMann said Tole swore at officers and hurled homophobic abuse.
“He also uttered threats to rape family members of one of the officers, to stab them and to slit their throats. He also challenged to fight them,” he said.
Tole admitted four charges of threatening and abusive behaviour, one charge of theft, one of police assault and one of resisting arrest on November 17 last year.
His defence agent Michael Burnett said Tole had been drunk at the time of the offences and was “genuinely distressed” when he was told of his actions the following morning.
‘He lost all control of himself’
He explained that Tole had attended the city’s sheriff court earlier in the day and the ordeal had “brought up a lot of emotions”, causing him to turn to alcohol and get “very drunk”.
“It was all very bizarre,” he added. “From making the odd comments to young kids to eventually finding himself in the cells.
“He simply lost all control of himself after he began drinking.
“He had no memory of it and when I spoke to him in the cells the day after he was very distressed to hear what he had said and was genuinely quite ashamed about the things he said to the officers.”
‘You have been given a chance’
Sheriff Lesley Johnston agreed Tole was “obviously remorseful and fully embarrassed and ashamed” of his behaviour.
“I consider that you require supervision to address your offending behaviour,” she told him. “I don’t consider unpaid work is suitable for you at this stage.
“You have been given a chance by both myself and sheriff Miller. I want you to take it and work well with social work.”
She ordered Tole, of Leggart Avenue, Aberdeen to be under the supervision of social workers for 18 months.
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