A man has been jailed for more than a year after he brandished a knife at two people on an Aberdeen street before tossing it in the direction of innocent passers-by.
Adrian Martin appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted wielding the blade – which was around 5in in length – at a man and a woman on the city’s Dee Street.
The court heard the 39-year-old had been using the knife to threaten the pair after they previously attacked him.
Following the incident, which happened at around 5.15pm on April 8, Martin then tossed the blade into a crowd with “total disregard” for the safety of those around him.
CCTV footage of the incident shows Martin, of 135 Cairngorm Drive, Kincorth, carrying out the “culpable and reckless conduct.” and was shown to the court.
Fiscal Depute Kelly Mitchell said: “I understand at that time all three had become involved in a heated altercation.
“During this the accused had become aggressive. He was in a possession of a knife at that stage. He was seen to throw the knife behind him. This landed on the ground. There were members of the public walking nearby.”
The court heard Martin approached the man by walking down the middle of the street before police officers arrived on the scene.
Representing the repeat offender, solicitor Tony Burgess said: “He told me his reason for being on Dee Street is that his landlord has an office there.
“He came into contact with the complainers. It is accepted there was some sort of exchange there. It has been ascertained he was then assaulted.
“Certainly when police attended Martin was bleeding from his nose. It is Martin’s position in terms of the knife that he might have fallen to the ground and does not accept he had the knife prior to that point but accepts he did then pick up the knife.”
Sheriff Graham Buchanan said his behaviour on the day was likely to “upset” witnesses.
He added: “These incidents occurred in broad daylight with members of the public going about and this sort of behaviour which we saw on the CCTV is quite simply unacceptable. There is no alternative to a custodial sentence.”
He was jailed for 15 months.