An Aberdeen man has been jailed for threatening to cut the throats of a bookie – and her children – when she refused to take a bet on a horse.
Shaun Groves, 40, made the sinister threats when the woman said she couldn’t place a bet because the race had already started.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the bookmaker was forced to push the panic button as Groves’ threats escalated and he told her: “You won’t recognise your son by the time I’m finished with him.”
The incident happened at the William Hill Bookmaker on Mastrick’s Greenfern Road on March 30 this year.
Groves – who was banned from the shop – initially tried to get his friend to place money on a horse. When the bet was refused, Groves entered the shop and made the threats.
Accused tried to get friend to place bet
Fiscal depute Carol Gammie said: “At that time the accused came in and began to shout at the bookmaker, telling her ‘you cannot f*****g bar him. You cannot refuse his bet’.”
“He was asked to leave and he refused and threatened the bookmaker’s son, stating ‘you won’t recognise your son by the time I’m finished with him’.”
Groves then went on to threaten the bookmaker herself, saying he would “slit her throat” while making a gesture with his finger across his throat.
The bookie pushed the staff safety button on the counter but Groves continued his tirade, stating “you think I’m feart of that?”.
He added: “I’ll go to Kittybrewster for a couple of days – I won’t care.
“You’ll both still be here.”
‘I know where you are’
Groves then went on to threaten the safety of the bookmaker’s daughter by again making a slitting gesture across his throat.
The bookie then contacted the police, to which Groves said: “I don’t care, I’m waiting for the police.
“I’ll do one month, or fitever, you’ll still be here. I know where you are. You don’t ken fit’s going to happen to you.”
The police arrived and removed Groves from the premises.
As they searched him they found a pair of small scissors in his pocket.
Groves, who is already serving 12 months in prison on an assault charge, pleaded guilty to one charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by making threats of physical violence.
He admitted a further charge of being in possession of a sharply pointed object.
‘He tried to put a bet on a horse and that horse won’
Defence agent Laura Gracie told the court that according to CCTV footage, her client “seems to be under the influence of something”.
“When he is detained by police he is asked various welfare questions and he told them that he had taken between 50 to 70 tablets.
“Mr Groves has had a substance misuse problem for most of his life.
“The reason that he lost his temper is that he tried to put a bet on a horse and that horse won.”
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin told Groves: “I’m sure you’re thoroughly ashamed of yourself.”
She sentenced Groves, of Kittybrewster Square, Aberdeen, to six months in prison.
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