Man with bread knife caused alarm in Levenwick

A MAN who alarmed the small village of Levenwick by brandishing a bread knife in the early hours of the morning will learn his fate in August.

Gordon McBurnie, of Nikkavord Lea, Baltasound, admitted at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday to possessing a bread knife without reasonable excuse at Staneybrake, Levenwick on 11 June.

The 46 year old also pled guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, swearing and brandishing the knife at the same location that day.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie opened by describing McBurnie as a man with a “significant alcohol problem”.

He said that the “extremely alarming” incident may have stemmed from mixing drink with medication.

The fiscal said McBurnie was first spotted at 5am waving a knife, but his behaviour continued for a number of hours.

A witness phoned neighbours to tell them to lock their doors before the man was seen two hours later walking a dog while holding a knife by his side.

McBurnie was also shouting and swearing, with his behaviour continuing until around 10am.

The police were called and found the bread knife, which had been covered by his jacket despite his initial protestations of innocence. McBurnie was then arrested.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said his client had been suffering from hallucinations and has since stopped drinking.

Sheriff Philip Mann told McBurnie that offences involving knives have “unpredictable consequences” and “great potential for harm to other members of the public”.

He adjourned the case until 3 August for a criminal justice social work enquiry report to be prepared, with McBurnie’s bail continued.

Sheriff Mann also granted a crown request for forfeiture of the bread knife once sentence has been passed.