A man who went on a drink and drug-fuelled rampage at an Oban hotel, threatening to throw a member of staff off the roof, has been sent to prison.
Andrew Davidson, 21, had a knife at one point during the incident at Oban Bay Hotel – and, when police arived to arrest him, he made threats of a sexual nature about an officers’s wife.
Yesterday, at Oban Sheriff Court, Davidson pleaded guilty to repeatedly punching hotel manager Jordan Williams on the head, pursuing him to his room, breaking the door down, chasing him onto the roof, threatening to throw him off and repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head and body.
He was jailed for 28 months.
The court heard that he used a fire extinguisher to break the bedroom door after going to the hotel on September 29.
Davidson also admitted having the knife.
Fiscal Eoin McGinty said that Davidson arrived at the hotel reception at 11.30pm with his brother, Christopher Davidson, 30, who initially also faced charges – but his not guilty pleas to assault and having a knife were accepted by the Crown.
Mr McGinty said: “The accused was carrying a fire extinguisher, demanding, ‘where is Steven?’. This continued for a period of time. There is a suggestion Steven was a member of staff who wasn’t on duty.”
Operations manager, Mr Williams, asked Davidson to shop shouting as other staff tried to usher guests away.
Mr McGinty said: “As Mr Williams was attempting to phone the police, the phone was pulled from the wall, at which point the accused began to punch him repeatedly on his head.
“The accused then produced a knife. It is accepted it came from somewhere in the hotel.”
Mr Williams ran from the reception area with his girlfriend, a Miss Marquez, back to their staff accommodation, where they locked the door.
Davidson followed them and kicked and banged, before breaking it open using the fire extinguisher.
Mr McGinty continued: “Miss Marquez and Mr Williams, clearly fearing for themselves, made their way out of a window and climbed onto the roof.
“The accused made his way onto the roof, caught up with Mr Williams and Mr Williams was repeatedly kicked on the head and body as he cowered. During the assault he was told repeatedly that he would be thrown off the roof. It was the first floor roof of the restaurant at the rear of the hotel.”
Police arrived and Davidson made his way to the back of the hotel, where he was grabbed and arrested.
The court heard he referred to one officer’s wife by her name and made threats of a sexual nature.
Solicitor Edward Thornton said Davidson was “in a bad place” and had consumed alcohol and cocaine, adding: “His recollection of events is not particularly clear.”
He said Davidson apologised to the policeman the following morning.
Sheriff Ruth Anderson told Davidson: “This was disgraceful behaviour which was clearly upsetting for those directly involved and also must have been upsetting to the guests in the hotel who were there for a happy weekend and then faced with your behaviour.
“It is only fortunate that Mr Williams didn’t sustain any injury worth libelling.”
She added: “I always say from the bench that police can expect abuse, that goes with the job, but this goes above and beyond that.”
