A man who was seen screaming on Aberdeen’s Union Street in the early hours of the morning ran away from police and tried to hide a knife inside a parking ticket machine.
Colin Allan unleashed an expletive-ridden torrent of abuse at the officers when he spotted their car.
But when they tried to apprehend him, the now 31-year-old “made good his escape”.
However, he was traced soon afterwards to Bon Accord Square, where he was seen taking a knife out of his sock and stashing it in a parking ticket machine.
Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar told Aberdeen Sheriff Court: “At approximately 2.20am on Wednesday October 13 2021, police were on patrol when they found the accused and another male standing in the middle of Union Street, Aberdeen, actively shouting and screaming.
“On seeing the marked police vehicle, the accused began to shout and swear at the officers, ‘you pig b*******’ and ‘f*** the police’.”
‘Incoherent shouting and swearing’
Allan was warned to desist but continued to shout abuse including “incoherent shouting and swearing”.
Ms MacVicar said: “Officers attempted to apprehend the accused, however, he made good his escape.
“At 2.40am, the accused was traced at Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen.
“He was observed to remove an item from his sock and wedge it within a parking ticket machine.”
Officers recovered the item that turned out to be a Stanley knife and Allan was arrested.
Allan, of Kirkhill Road in Aberdeen, pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and possession of a knife.
‘A lesson learned for him’
Defence agent John Hardie said his client, who suffers from learning difficulties, had “no previous conviction of any kind”.
He said: “It’s not the kind of conduct you’d expect from a 30-year-old in full-time employment and with no previous convictions.
“Alcohol played a significant role. This has been a lesson learned for him.
“He’s extremely afraid of the consequences of his court appearance. He doesn’t understand easily the nature of the process.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace ordered Allan to complete 150 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
