A man who knocked at a property while holding a bread knife was swiftly arrested – when police officers answered the door.
Henry Robertson had already knocked at the home twice – once with a screwdriver and once with a knife – so he wasn’t expecting the police to be there when he tried again.
The residents were at home in Mackintosh Road, Inverness, at around 12.40pm on November 17 2020 when they heard a knock at their door.
Fiscal depute Martina Eastwood told Inverness Sheriff Court: “The witness answered the door and he saw the accused standing at the front door holding a screwdriver with a black handle.
“The witness closed the door immediately and contacted police.”
But a short time later there was another knock at the door and Robertson, 32, returned.
“The witness attended at the door and saw the accused standing outside with a knife,” Ms Eastwood said.
Police arrived at the property a short time later and, as the witnesses were explaining the situation to them, there was a third knock at the door – which the officer answered.
Officers greet man holding bread knife
Ms Eastwood said: “At this time he was holding the said knife. The police described the knife as a bread knife.”
Robertson was taken to Burnett Road Police Station and placed in a cell, where he used the buzzer to call a support officer.
When the officer arrived at Robertson’s cell he grabbed them through the hatch, refusing to let go.
Another officer rushed to their aid, at which point Robertson claimed he had Covid-19 and spat at them, hitting them on the chest and hand.
Robertson admitted a single charge of possessing a bladed or sharply pointed article in a public place, as well as two charges of assault.
Defence solicitor David Paterson for Robertson said his client was “completely ashamed of his conduct” and invited Sheriff Sara Matheson to call for pre-sentencing reports, which she did.
The case will call again next month.
