A man has been jailed for threatening his “drinking buddy” with a six-foot metal chain in Aberdeen city centre.
Marc McKenzie was seen dragging the weapon along the ground on Castle Terrace on Sunday afternoon, before slamming it into a bench then shouting and swearing at his friend.
He appeared at the city’s sheriff court yesterday where he pled guilty to acting in a threatening and abusive manner, and possessing an offensive weapon.
Fiscal depute Alan Townsend said McKenzie, 47, was seen walking down the street “shouting, swearing and pointing aggressively” towards the man.
As he grew closer, he lifted the chain and “slammed” it onto a bench beside him.
McKenzie then spotted someone on their phone reporting the incident to police, so threw his weapon under the seat and fled the scene.
Later, his victim told officers McKenzie threatened to “smash him” with the chain – but believed his actions were only meant to scare him.
Solicitor Lynn Bentley said her client had suffered a brain injury during a heart attack two years ago which, combined with excessive alcohol consumption, meant he had “no recollection” of events.
The court heard that McKenzie, of Jute Street, had been granted early release from prison at the start of the month.
Sheriff Graham Buchanan said there was “no alternative” but to send him back behind bars to complete the final 65 days of his sentence – and added another six months.