A mum who returned home without any food for dinner was forced to flee when her hungry son brandished a knife at her.
Dickson Okumu, 30, admitted flying into a rage and grabbing his mother by the throat after she ignored his message asking her to bring back food.
As she ran into the hallway to escape him, Okumu then held up a kitchen knife – forcing his mother to flee the family home.
He appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where he pled guilty to a charge of assault.
His solicitor told the court that Okumu has “difficulty in explaining” why he reacted as he did.
‘She was unable to breathe’
Fiscal depute Ellen Barr told the court that on September 3 last year, Okumu messaged his 61-year-old mum while she was at work.
He asked her to pick up the shopping as he had not received his benefits cheque.
When she returned home, she told him that she had only spotted the message when she was on her way back.
“The accused became irate and grabbed his mother by the neck and pushed her against the wall,” Ms Barr said.
“She was unable to breathe and felt that she might lose consciousness, but she did not.
“As she ran into the hallway, she saw the accused standing with a kitchen knife which he held in the air.”
Ms Barr told the court that Okumu’s mother begged him not to harm her before opening the front door and running into the street.
She then dashed to a nearby car park where she contacted the police.
Okumu pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by squeezing his mum’s neck and restricting her breathing and by brandishing a knife.
‘A very frightening experience’
Defence agent Michael Horsman told the court that Okumu had moved in with his mother after he lost his own accommodation in Aberdeen.
“It was really just a minor disagreement and Mr Okumu has difficulty in explaining why he reacted like he did.
“He fully accepts responsibility for what must have been a very frightening experience for his mother.”
Sheriff James Hastie told Okumu: “You are fortunate that your mother did what most mothers do and took you in when you needed it.
“How you behaved towards her is completely unacceptable.”
Sheriff Hastie sentenced Okumu, of Urquhart Court, Aberdeen, to 100 hours of unpaid work.
For all the latest court cases in Aberdeen as well as crime and breaking incidents, join our Facebook group.
