Berserk axe man scared his partner

Dec 30 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A HIGHLAND Perthshire man went “berserk” following an argument with his girlfriend after a marathon drinking session in a local pub.

And when he was bundled outside and the door locked to stop him getting back into his house, he grabbed an axe and brandished it in a threatening manner.

Thirty-eight-year-old Terry Robinson, of Garryside, Blair Atholl, demanded to be let in. And when that didn’t happen, he put his fist through three panes of glass in the front door, cutting his hands and spraying blood and glass over three people who were inside.

Police were alerted and when they arrived on the scene in the early hours of the morning, they found Robinson covered in blood, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

Sheriff Peter Hammond, who said it must have been a “frightening experience” for everyone concerned, fined Robinson a total of £460.

He pled guilty to committing a breach of the peace at his home on December 21 and being found with a lock knife in his possession.

Depute fiscal Janine Bates said that the accused, his girlfriend Donna Hepburn, her sister Amanda and other friends had been enjoying a night out in the Round House Bar in Blair Atholl.

Robinson and his partner had several arguments during the course of the evening but the others thought they had resolved matters by closing time.

All of them were “heavily under the influence of alcohol” when they arrived home at 12.30am.

But another argument erupted between the pair after he texted her to say he was spending the night in his caravan parked outside.

“Doors were being slammed and the accused walked through to the living room and into the kitchen,” added Ms Bates.

He was still shouting and swearing and when one of those present tried to calm him down, he “went berserk.”

Two people managed to lock the accused outside to prevent him getting back into the house but that angered him and he was seen brandishing the axe, used for chopping firewood.

Robinson was detained by police shortly before 2am and taken to A&E at PRI where he had superficial cuts to his hands cleaned and paper stitches inserted.

When he was searched, a lock knife was found in one of his pockets. He told police he used it for his work.

Solicitor Steve Lafferty said that his client had spent two nights in custody as a result of the incident and was “ashamed” of his behaviour.

“He realises this was totally unacceptable.”

He had been drinking since 2pm that day and had consumed a “substantial quantity” of alcohol.

The accused, who is currently working with a public utility company in the Northumberland area, earning £500 a week, will pay the fines at £50 a month. The Sheriff ordered the knife to be destroyed.