Inverness man chased group through city centre with razor blade in his pocket
A 23-year-old Inverness man was sitting on a High Street bench with his dog chatting to a friend when he took exception to a group of people walking past.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Matthew Backhouse-Anderson of Millburn Road, Inverness shouted at one of woman: "Don't look at me again, you little b****."
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Backhouse-Anderson then put his hand in his pocket and chased them down the street on February 11 last year, shouting: "I am going to stab you," fiscal depute Adele Gray told Sheriff Gary Aitken.
They sought refuge in a nearby shop and the police were called.
Backhouse-Anderson was arrested and a routine search revealed he had a razor blade in his pocket.
He pleaded guilty to threatening behaviour and possession of a bladed article and sentence was previously deferred for a background report.
Defence solicitor Natalie Paterson said: "At the time he was struggling with an alcohol problem. But he is doing well in rehab where he is staying."
Sheriff Aitken placed Backhouse-Anderson under a year's social work supervision with alcohol treatment and ordered him to remain at the rehab unit for the next 12 months.
