The self-styled “hardest man in Aberdeen” has avoided a prison sentence after he jumped into a stranger’s car and assaulted two passengers.
Levi McLennan launched himself through the passenger window of the Renault Clio and demanded a lift home in the early hours of the morning.
The offshore worker shouted at the three young occupants “Do you know who I am? I’m the hardest man in Aberdeen,” Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
The 28-year-old sat on the gear stick and insisted he be taken home and when the driver refused he rained punches down on his two passengers.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend said the incident happened just after 1.30am on May 22, this year.
‘Take me f****** hame’
He said the men in the black Clio were waiting at traffic lights on Union Street at the Bon Accord Street junction when McLennan, a stranger to them, began shouting and swearing at the window and demanded “take me f****** hame”.
“He thereafter jumped into the car via the front passenger window, initially sitting in the front on the gear stick,” the fiscal said. “The driver told him he couldn’t drive the car when he was on the gear stick and the accused became highly agitated and stated that he was ‘out of his f****** face’ and ‘not to try him’.
“He was then overheard saying ‘I hate Police Scotland’.”
Witnesses were then asked: “Do you know who I am? I’m the hardest man in Aberdeen”, or words to that effect, the court heard.
As the car made off along Bon Accord Street, McLennan jumped into the back seat, grabbed the hand brake and shouted “drive drive!” – before grabbing a passenger by the throat, choking him.
“The driver got the handbrake off and started driving,” the fiscal added.
“The accused calmed down and removed his hands from the witness’s throat but he then grabbed hold of his throat again and started punching him to the face and his body multiple times before punching the other passenger on the nose.”
It wasn’t until McLennan punched the near offside window and then headbutted the rear driverside window, causing it to smash, that the group’s ordeal came to an end.
“Uniformed police were on mobile foot patrol on Langstane Place when they saw the witnesses and the accused get out of the vehicle and were told the accused had smashed the car window,” the court heard.
McLennan turned his aggressive behaviour on officers as they attempted to take him into custody, pushing past one female constable and flailing his arms.
Hurled abuse at police
After much “lashing about” and “struggling” he was restrained and taken to Kittybrewster custody suite where he then hurled racist abuse at the charge desk officer and threatened to “knock him out” and “find and kill his parents”.
In response to being charged with vandalism over the car window, he replied “prove it”.
McLennan admitted two charges of assault to injury, two more of threatening or abusive behaviour and a final charge of resisting arrest.
His defence agent Alex Burn said McLennan suffers from mental health difficulties and had been drinking on the night in question.
‘Bizarre’ turn of events
“He has blacked out and suspects his drink was spiked,” the solicitor said.
“That would coincide with the set of events, firstly getting into the vehicle through the side window which seems particularly bizarre.
“He can’t remember this incident but fully accepts responsibility.
“He has no explanation for how he got to be in that situation and is very ashamed of his conduct on that particular night.”
Sheriff Lesley Johnston told McLennan: “I have considered carefully whether to impose a custodial sentence … you have just avoided one today.”
McLennan, of Faulds Wynd, Aberdeen, was ordered to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work and remain under supervision for 18 months.
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