A teenagerwho tried to rob a newsagent by brandishing a kitchen knife was “overcome” by two men, one of whom was 72 years old.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that the owner of the shop had asked Michael Czekella, 19, c/o HMP Perth, if he was joking when he demanded cash.
Depute fiscal Stuart Richardson said the 63-year-old man then grabbed Czekella’s right wrist and was helped by his 72-year-old friend.
“Czekella had come back into the shop brandishing a kitchen knife and saying ‘Give me the money,’ ” he said.
“The shopowner asked him if he was joking but the accused said he wasn’t. The shop owner then reached out and took hold of the accused’s wrist and ,with his friend’s help, they brought Czekella to the ground and he was restrained until police came.”
Mr Richardson added that the kitchen knife was part of a set belonging to Czekella’s parents. Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, stressed how the older men were able to bring his client to the ground.
“My client’s parents are at the end of their tether with him and have put him out of the home,” he said.
Czekella had admitted that on June 20 at Bensons Newsagents, Garth Avenue, Perth, he assaulted a man by brandishing a knife at him and attempting to rob him of money. He was sentenced to 34 months’ detention, which was backdated to June 21.