A DINGWALL man who walked into a neighbour's flat brandishing two knives was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.
Dingwall Sheriff Court heard today (Thursday) that Gordon Harper was at home drinking when one of his friends received a call on a mobile phone about 2.30am in the morning of May 13.
Depute fiscal Stewart Maciver said the person who received the call didn’t want to answer it and the phone was handed to Harper. Moments later he took two kitchen knives and made his way from the flat.
Harper (25), of High Street, Dingwall, admitted at a flat in Trinity House, Dingwall, behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to cause fear and alarm, shouting and swearing and brandishing two knives.
The fiscal said Harper was seen walking into the flat brandishing the knives. A man in the flat called the police.
Aileen Macinnes, solicitor, said Harper had been out drinking with friends before the offence. She said he had a problem with alcohol but had not taken any since the incident.
"This has been a serious wake-up call to him," she said.
The solicitor added that Harper had been referred to psychiatric services and was regarded as a low risk of re-offending.
Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen told Harper: "This is a very serious matter, brandishing two knives for no reason whatsoever."
The Sheriff said he could send him to prison but that would do little to protect the public on his release.
As well as the community service he placed Harper on a two-year community pay back order which involved alcohol counselling.
