Man who made stab threats denied bail

A man who brandished a knife at a party in Lerwick and threatened to kill people has been remanded in custody.

Alexander Nicholson, 25, of Bathgate was denied bail when he appeared from custody at Lerwick Sheriff Court after he admitted breaching the peace while on bail.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie said Nicholson was “intoxicated” when he went to a Lerwick address with a number of others for a party after the pubs had closed.

He said Nicholson took hold of the weapon and made the threats without any warning.

“For no apparent reason he started waving a knife about telling people to back off, that he was going to stab all of them and that he was going to kill all of them.”

Mr MacKenzie said it took some time for a woman who was there to “talk some sense” into him and he released the knife.

Mr MacKenzie said Nicholson had “caused problems” for G4S staff as they made failed attempts to get him to court yesterday in fog.

“He is clearly somebody with a temper, given the way he was conducting himself at the airport in Aberdeen yesterday with G4S staff, which caused problems for them.”

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Nicholson had been the victim of a stabbing in February, when he was knifed in the leg.

He said Nicholson had not brought the knife to the party where he committed the offence, but had seen it in the kitchen.

Mr Allan said Nicholson, who was based in one of the accommodation vessels, had lost his job as a result of the incident.

But he said there was hope he could be given employment outside of the isles if he was allowed his liberty.

He added Nicholson had maintained he was taken from his cell at 6am without any breakfast and had been offered hardly any food as he made yesterday’s unsuccessful bid to get to the Lerwick court.

“It was not much of a fun day for Mr Nicholson,” he said.

He urged sheriff Philip Mann to grant Nicholson bail, adding he had spent a week in custody already following an initial court appearance.

Sheriff Mann said: “I’m going to defer consideration of this matter to enable the court to get a criminal justice social enquiry report. I do note this offence as being serious in nature, and it calls into question the possibility of a custodial sentence.”

He added the offence highlighted a possibility of “anger-management issues” for Nicholson.

“I’m not satisfied it would be appropriate to grant you bail today.”

Nicholson will appear in court again on 15th May.