A man has avoided a prison sentence after he brandished a large carving knife in the street as his neighbours looked on in horror.
Keith Morris, 23, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted walking into Bonnyview Drive, Aberdeen and holding the knife “outstretched” as he shouted and swore at a man and woman.
Morris, who has previously served a prison sentence for knife crime, also admitted to throwing a bicycle toward the pair.
Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson told the court that at around 3.15pm on July 30 2020 Morris got into a dispute with the couple as they stood outside his home.
It was stated that the woman had previously been at Morris’s home and left but soon returned with the male.
“All three individuals were shouting and swearing at each other,” Ms Simpson said.
“Due to the noise, witnesses emerged from nearby properties to observe what was going on.
“At around this time, the accused then re-entered his garden and picked up a child’s bicycle and threw it towards the two individuals.
“The accused then went back into his property and closed the front door.”
Ms Simpson stated that the male involved in the argument then picked up a jerry can and flung it at Morris’s front door before kicking it.
Morris then emerged from his home brandishing a large silver carving knife which was “outstretched in front of him”.
“The accused was mumbling and shouting something towards the unknown individuals, however, it was unclear to witnesses what he was saying,” Ms Simpson said.
She told the court that Morris’s neighbours then shouted for him to drop the knife.
As he did so the male in female sped off in a white vehicle.
Morris pleaded guilty to one charge of behaving in a threatening manner by brandishing the knife in the street and throwing a bicycle.
Accused had ‘no intention’ of using knife
Defence agent Alex Burn told the court that his client had been “taking substances” when an argument ensued.
He said: “The individuals arrived at the address and an argument started and items got thrown, including a jerry can.
“My client picks up a knife in order to intimidate them but had no intention of using it.”
Mr Burn added that a member of Morris’s family had built up a drug debt and that was what the argument was in relation to.
“He is genuinely remorseful for his actions and is a young man who doesn’t have a long record for offending,” he said.
“His life is going in the right direction now and he hopes to continue going in that direction.”
As an alternative to a prison sentence, Sheriff Ian Wallace sentenced Morris to a community payback order with supervision for two years.
He also put a restriction of liberty order in place meaning Morris, of Cava Close, Aberdeen, will be confined to his home for certain hours for 225 days.
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