A grieving man went “berserk” after accusing two German tourists of playing their music too loud – before throwing a hammer and knife at police.
Paul McGee became aggressive after he thought he heard loud music coming from an AirBnB.
He began banging on the door of the apartment, occupied by Sarah Ruoss and Carmen Staple, who were were visiting to “see the sights of Aberdeen”.
McGee, of Hutcheon Street, repeatedly shouted abusive remarks through the door and struck it continuously, leaving the girls “very distressed”.
And Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that when police arrived at the scene, he turned his anger on them.
The 55-year-old threatened to kill three constables and a sergeant while brandishing a knife and hammer.
He then threw both the weapons at PC Christopher George.
When McGee was taken to Kittybrewster Police Station, his abusive behaviour continued and the court heard that his comments became “racially motivated”.
McGee pleaded guilty to behaving in a aggressive manner and assaulting the police officers.
Solicitor Bruce Macdonald explained that his client’s behaviour had spiralled out of control after his long-term partner died of cancer.
Mr Macdonald said: “Mr McGee was in a loving, close relationship with a lady for 15 years.
“She was diagnosed with breast cancer then, within two weeks, she was dead – and he was unable to cope.”
Sheriff Donald Ferguson suggested the offences had been caused by an “extreme grief reaction”.
He described the incident as a “horrendous situation, but also a significant tragedy.”
He added: “This is a very perplexing case, I have to say, and I have a tremendous amount of sympathy for the girls.
“You seemed to have gone absolutely berserk and took your anger out on police and members of the public.”
McGee was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay the two victims £200 in compensation.
He was admonished of a second charge of acting in a racially aggravated manner towards two women on George Street on September 8.