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Nwicker60
22-May-12, 14:15
Knife escalated party incident sheriff told

A YOUNG man who brandished a knife at two fellow guests at a party in Wick was jailed for 328 days at the town’s sheriff court today.
Richard Donn, described as a prisoner at Inverness Prison admitted, on indictment, a reduced charge of assaulting Christopher Mallan and Kevin Anderson, and a number of previous convictions. The case had been set down to be heard by the sheriff and a jury but senior fiscal depute, David Barclay intimated he was accepting pleas of not guilty to a second charge of assault and two counts of threatening and abusive behaviour.
The court was told that Donn had been one of several people who made their way to a party at a house in Saltoun Street, after drinking at pubs in the town, on February 4.
There was a disagreement between Mr Mallan and another man which ended up first in the hallway and then spilled over into the street.
Senior fiscal depute, David Barclay said Donn became involved, went back into the house, removed a knife from the kitchen and returned to the scene and brandished it at Messrs Mallan and Anderson.
Mr Barclay said: “Other guests were trying to calm things down and the incident fizzled out. It was reported to the police.”
Solicitor Graham Mann said that the incident had not been premeditated and indicated it had been a spontaneous gesture which was over in seconds although it had been “ill thought out” and was “a huge mistake”.
Mr Mann added: “The accused clearly upped the anti. The potential in a house where people had taken drink could have, potentially been extremely dangerous and he accepts that although he had no intention of using the knife”.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said he took into account that Donn had not been carrying the knife and the fact it had not been used to strike anyone but brandishing a knife, in any circumstances, was “a serious matter”.
Donn’s previous record which included convictions for assault and breaches of probation, had started when he was 17, a fact the sheriff said he “deplored”.
Sheriff Berry said he had considered a substantially longer sentence and warned the accused:” If you don’t mend your ways, you will endlessly find yourself in custody for longer periods.”
The prison sentence will be back-dated to February 6 when Donn was arrested.