A drunken man who bought a knife from a Galashiels supermarket during the early hours of Christmas Eve told police he made the purchase for his own protection after a man strangled him in a nightclub.
Liam Brown was seen on the store’s CCTV as he passed through Tesco’s self-checkout, having bought a knife with a five-inch blade.
Brown, 22, of Gala Park Court, Galashiels, appeared on indictment and admitted possession of a knife at Overhaugh Street, Galashiels, on December 24.
Police were alerted when Brown was seen queuing outside the Indigo Rooms nightclub with the knife, which was found in the pocket of his jeans. He told officers a man had strangled him in the nightclub, so he went to Tesco’s and bought the knife to protect himself.
“Police were on duty around 1.10am on Christmas Eve when someone told them there was a man standing with a knife, queuing to get into the Indigo Rooms,” explained procurator fiscal Graham Fraser.
“He was spoken to by police and told he was going to be searched, and was entirely co-operative, showing them a knife in the front left pocket of his jeans. It had a blade of five inches, so was not insubstantial,” added Mr Fraser.
Brown was arrested and taken to the police station.
“He made a comment to the effect that a man had strangled him in the Indigo Rooms, so he went to Tesco’s and bought a knife to protect himself,” continued Mr Fraser. “Police checked the store’s CCTV and saw the purchase captured on that.”
Iain Burke, defending, said he found it “slightly odd” that someone could buy a knife during the early hours of the morning.
The lawyer added: “He is extremely grateful to the friend who alerted police as he was not behaving in a rational manner.”
Mr Burke said Brown now rarely socialised.
“He does not have any history of criminal behaviour and has led a quiet life. His over-reaction relates to his suffering when he was subject to harassment and bullying at school,” added Mr Burke.
The first offender was sentenced to a 12-month community payback order, with a condition he completes 120 hours of unpaid work.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond warned: “I want you to clearly understand that this is the classic situation in which grave consequences can follow. We have a young man, under the influence of alcohol, and with some perceived grudge, who went to Tesco’s and bought a knife. That is a situation which can end up with somebody dead at the end of it.”
In imposing an alternative to custody, the sheriff said Brown “was not without his problems” and appeared as a first offender.