A Paisley man who threatened his “father like figure” with a knife and demanded money has been jailed for over a year.
Dale Lockhart forced his way in to Frank McMillan’s house in Glencoats Drive and demanded he gave him £10 before threatening to stab him.
Procurator fiscal Mr McConnell told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 5pm on October 22, Mr McMillan, was within his home address watching TV.
“Mr McMillan was sat near to his living room window and at this time saw Lockhart walking towards the property.
“Mr Lockhart got up to answer the door and on answering he told the accused, ‘you’re no getting in.’
“The accused then stated, ‘I want £10 aff ye.’
“Mr McMillan refused entry and at that point the accused became aggressive and pushed McMillan out of the way and entered the house.
“The accused stated, ‘I’m going for a knife.’
“Lockhart then entered the kitchen and grabbed a small, purple handled kitchen knife with a four or five inch blade.
“Within the living room, the accused stated, ‘I’m going to stab f**k out you.’
“McMillan ran from his property and the accused also left.
“This was observed by a neighbouring witness who was washing her car.
“This witness observed Lockhart to be intoxicated.
“The neighbour also seen the accused push past McMillan and enter his property, she also overheard a disturbance within.
“She contacted the police as did Mr McMillan.
“Uniformed police were advised to attend an en-route they received information from CCTV operators that Lockhart was in the Ferguslie Park area.
“The accused was traced and stated ‘I didn’t do anything’ when arrested and cautioned.
“Officers then conducted a search of the obvious route from the locus to where they traced Lockhart and around 8.05pm, officers traced a purple handled kitchen knife.
“McMillan identified the knife as belonging to him.
“Forensic analysis of the knife found DNA contributing to Lockhart and also found Lockhart’s fingerprints on the knife.”
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Mr McConnell explained to the court that Mr McMillan who was just shy of turning 60, wasn’t injured in the incident.
Defence agent Anthony Callaghan told how Lockhart, 27, has a young son and is currently serving a prison sentence in Kilmarnock prison.
Mr Callaghan said Lockhart had been “settled” in life but a “horrendous addiction to street Valium” which led him to a series of offending.
He said: “Mr Lockhart had settled, he was in a relationship, he had been working and a dream of his was to join the army.
“He joined the army and it didn’t turn out too well for him and he left six months later and he struggled to fit in to domestic life.
“He began to drink and this led to a horrendous addiction.
“Mr McMillan is a life-long family friend, something of a father figure to Mr Lockhart.
“His life was chaotic at this time and he was a victim of his own drug addiction but he accepts his behaviour was wrong and he is apologetic.”
Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: “This is a serious matter that involved a breach of trust and threats of violence to an older man who was doing nothing but try to assist you.
“It’s right to say that prior to 2021, you has a minor record, and then it took a turn for the worst.
“You’re not like the vast majority of people who stand in that dock. You had a job, you joined the army, you had a relationship and from that a child, and most people who stand in that dock have never had any of those things.
“I hope you are genuine when you say you want to come out of this a better person, but I do have to sentence you for a serious offence.”
Sheriff McGinty sentenced Lockhart to 21 months imprisonment reduced to 14 months due to the early timing of Lockhart’s early plea.
The sentence was further reduced by one month due to Lockhart being in remand and was therefore sentenced to 13 months imprisonment.
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