A troubled teen caused more than £5,000 of damage to a flat and lobbed chunks of plaster and an extractor fan from the third-floor window.
Luke Turnbull admitted a spree of offending, which also included him threatening to kill police and boasting that he’d taken drugs and couldn’t feel pain.
The 18-year-old’s “feral behaviour” involved numerous offences of theft and violence, all while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
But the young offender has been given one “final chance” by a sheriff to turn his life around and find a “new path” or face a custodial sentence.
Fiscal depute Sean Ambrose told Aberdeen Sheriff Court neighbours heard a “disturbance” in the flat on Charles Street around 5.30pm on December 19 2020.
He said: “The accused and another male were seen throwing large chunks of plasterboard and an extractor fan out of a top floor window.”
‘This is your final chance’
Police were called and arrived to find the flat in “utter disarray”.
The total cost of the damage was £5,500, which the flat owner had to claim through his insurance.
Turnbull pled guilty to charges of culpably and reckless conduct and malicious mischief over that matter.
He also admitted theft of a parcel from Affleck Place and theft of two bicycles and Deliveroo bags from College Street Car Park around the same period.
Turnbull further admitted theft of another bicycle from Riverside Drive on April 12 2021.
Two days later, Turnbull stole bottles of booze from Scotmid on Crown Street and threatened staff with violence when confronted.
‘Displaying tremendous strength’
The teen then held a wine bottle above his head and snarled: “I’m going to hit you with this.”
He then “stormed past” another worker, crowing that he didn’t “give a f***”.
In relation to that matter, Turnbull pled guilty to theft by shoplifting, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and possession of an offensive weapon.
On July 5 2021, around 8pm, Turnbull marched up to the counter at McDonald’s on Union Street and started shouting and swearing and “demanding food”.
He then tried to walk behind the counter into a staff area but was stopped.
Turnbull then repeatedly struck a perspex screen until it smashed.
On being ordered to leave, the teen pushed a witness before eventually being ushered out, slapping another witness on the way.
Police traced Turnbull on Union Street and a struggle ensued, in which he kicked, punched and tried to bite officers.
‘Let this be the start of a new path for you’
Turnbull pled guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, vandalism, assault and two charges of assaulting a police officer.
On November 3 2021, around 2.50am, Turnbull assaulted a man on Union Street by pushing and kicking him, knocking him to the ground, punching him, grabbing him by the neck and dragging him along the road.
He admitted charges of assault and a bail curfew breach over that matter.
Around 8pm on September 2 this year, Turnbull was stopped by police at Doocot Park in Elgin because he matched the description of a person they were looking for.
On being arrested though, he swung his legs out to stop the van door being closed and kicked out at officers.
He was restrained and made “various threats of violence” against officers, warning he’d make them “bleed to death”.
‘It’s rather sad reading the report’
Turnbull also used racist language in a tirade of verbal abuse.
The fiscal Mr Ambrose said: “The accused repeatedly smashed his head against the cell door and goaded officers to fight him.
“He said he’d consumed certain drugs and could not feel pain. He said he’d kill officers once the cell door opened.”
Once at Elgin police station, Turnbull continued to resist and refused to relinquish his clothing as requested, “displaying tremendous strength, according to the police”.
The behaviour continued for 20 minutes and required eight officers to restrain him.
Turnbull, whose address was given as Marischal Gardens, Aberdeen, pled guilty to resisting, obstructing or hindering police, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and assaulting an officer by attempting to bite him.
Defence agent Alex Burn described the offences as “feral behaviour”, of which his client had little recollection.
‘Don’t let me down. Don’t let yourself down’
He said Turnbull had had a “particularly troubling background”, and was struggling was drugs and alcohol issues.
The lawyer said Turnbull, in a social work report, described his parents as “junkies”.
He added: “His mother introduced him to illicit substances. It’s rather sad reading the report. He’s experienced significant childhood trauma.”
Regarding the assault on the man on Union Street, Mr Burn said: “It would appear the individual was more than up for a fight.”
Sheriff Leslie Johnston imposed an 18-month supervision order and 155 hours of unpaid work in total to cover all the offences. He was admonished on some charges due to the time he’d spent remanded in custody.
The sheriff warned Turnbull: “This is your final chance.
“You can’t continue to rely on your background as an excuse for your behaviour.
“Turn it around and let this be the start of a new path for you.
“Don’t let me down. Don’t let yourself down.”
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