A violent dog owner punched and kicked his “scared and shivering” pet while being arrested by police and later held his mum at knifepoint as he demanded money from her.
Greig Falconer also “dragged” his dog around on an earlier occasion, and drunkenly brandished a knife at his own mum and step-grandfather in a later incident.
The 29-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after admitting a string of offences in which he abused his pet, brandished a knife at his own relatives, and hurled homophobic abuse at police officers.
Fiscal depute Rebecca Thomson said the first incident occurred at Bucksburn Police Station on December 4 2020 when he hurled abuse at officers and threatened to let his dog attack them.
“He demanded to be taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and told officers ‘yous are dead’ and ‘I’m going to come to where yous stay and kill yous’.
“He also threatened to set his large dog, which was with him, upon them.”
‘Dog was scared and shivering’
The next day Falconer again came to the attention of police, this time outside the entrance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where he was “dragging” his dog around.
“He was aggressively dragging his dog around,” the fiscal said. “He continued shouting and swearing all the way to Kittybrewster police station.
“While standing round the back of the van, he was punching and kicking his dog.
“The dog appeared scared and shivering.”
He also called one officer a “p***” multiple times.
On another occasion, on June 23 last year, he drunkenly destroyed various items of furniture in front of his now-pregnant girlfriend, including a glass table that “shattered” after being struck with an ashtray.
Then in May 2022, he brandished a knife at his own mum and step-grandfather at their Heathryfold Circle home, forcing his way into the doorway and demanding money.
Miss Thomson said Falconer followed his mum home “at pace” from a bus stop before trying to enter her home, which he’s barred from due to bail conditions.
Pulled knife on his mum
When his step-grandad came to see what the commotion was at the door, Falconer shouted “do you think I’m scared?” and pulled out a knife.
“He brandished it and held it a few inches from her face,” the fiscal added. “He repeatedly demanded money and was refused before he left.”
Falconer admitted one charge of causing an animal unnecessary suffering or harm and five charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
His defence agent Peter Keene said alcohol and drug abuse was the root cause of his client’s offending but that he’d since become a “new man”.
“He has no recollection of this behaviour but he is sorry for it,” the solicitor said. “He is waiting for an opportunity to present the new Greig Falconer to his mum and that’s someone she hasn’t seen for long enough.”
Mr Keene suggested his client was unfit for unpaid work due to “historic injuries” and him “continually falling off motorbikes and bicycles and such” but said his existing curfew and supervision order could be added to.
Sheriff Andrew Miller handed Falconer, of Marchburn Crescent, Aberdeen, a year-long supervision order and a five-month restriction of liberty order.
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