Dundee teenager who threatened to kill mum avoids jail sentence

A Dundee teenager who told his own mother he would "enjoy killing her" before pointing a knife at her then confronting cops while wearing a helmet with nails attached to it has been spared a jail sentence.

The 16-year-old started an argument with his mum over his "lack of respect" for her before storming out in a further disagreement over a camping trip.

Moments later he came out of his bedroom wearing a silver helmet with nails attached to it and carrying a baseball bat, a pen knife and a double ended knife.

He approached his mum waving both blades at her and stating he was "going to kill her".

Dundee Sheriff Court heard his mother was left in "significant fear".

Fiscal depute Charmaine Gilmartin told Dundee Sheriff Court: "He thereafter used the double ended knife to cut the telephone wire of the intercom system so his mother couldn't use this to allow police access to the main entrance.

"He thereafter said 'the pigs can't get me now' before saying to his mother 'if the police don't come here you're next'."

The thug then smashed two windows using the baseball bat as his mum called 999.

Mrs Gilmartin added: "The accused thereafter contacted police using his personal mobile number advising the 999 call handler he would kill his mother.

"He walked up and down the hallway telling his mother that he would enjoy killing her and that he had been waiting a long time for this opportunity.

"His mother describes herself as being petrified at his conduct.

"About 7.10pm officers attended the locus and traced the accused standing at the front door wearing the helmet with the nails attached and was in possession of a silver baseball bat with nails attached too.

"On seeing the police he shouted 'I'm over here' and 'I'm coming for you'.

"He approached the officers swinging both baseball bats in a threatening manner.

"The officers thereafter drew their police issue batons and instructed him to drop the bats.

"He refused and still made attempts to approach them.

"The silver baseball bat was taped to his left hand.

"Officers thereafter adopted tactical positions on either side of him and placed him in handcuffs."

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty on indictment to behaving in a threatening and abusive manner on March 13 and breaching bail on April 6.

Defence solicitor Douglas McConnell said: "There's a great deal of work that can be done with him.

"He's ready and willing to do that work with the assistance of his family.

"The victim is his mother and she has been supportive of him from the start."

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC imposed a community payback order with two years supervision, 200 hours unpaid work and ordered the teenager to take part in a mentoring for men programme.

He said: "You made offensive remarks towards your mother, threatened to kill her, brandished knives at her, smashed windows with a baseball bat and your behaviour must have been terrifying for your mother to experience.

"This is an offence that warrants custody nut having read about the background to your life you are somebody who is suitable for a community disposal.