A Montrose man put a knife to his partner’s face and told her he was going to kill her.
James Thomson (50), Glenlethnot Place, admitted that on November 21, at Murray Lane, he assaulted his partner, seized her by the neck, presented a knife at her face and body, and cut her on the hand with the knife.
His defence agent Jim Hodson said it was “an Indiana Jones-esque” episode, misattributing a film quote Thomson had said: “That is not a knife this is a knife.”
Depute fiscal Arlene Shaw said Thomson had been out drinking and his partner was becoming concerned because she had not heard from him.
She said he returned at around 7pm, clearly under the influence, and there was an argument about his drinking. She said Thomson went to the kitchen, took the knife, approached her and grabbed her by the neck.
Ms Shaw added: “He presented the knife. She grabbed his arm to try and restrain him.”
She said he held the knife close to her face before lowering it slowly and holding it between himself and her.
He pushed it towards her and she grabbed it to protect herself, cutting her finger.
Ms Shaw said that during this he told her he was going to kill her, adding: “She began crying in pain and he ran to the bathroom and got tissues.
“He stated it was her fault this had happened. A neighbour came downstairs and found the complainer obviously terrified. She said the accused had stabbed her.”
Ms Shaw said Thomson replied: “I didn’t mean it.”
Thomson was detained and told police: “She had the knife. I tried to take it away and cut her.”
Mr Hodson said the couple were involved in a decorating business. Thomson, he said, was a self-employed decorator. He said the victim had from mental health and alcohol issues.
He said she was extremely drunk when Thomson arrived home and she “came at him with what was effectively a tattie peeler.”
Mr Hodson said it was an “an Indiana Jones-esque” episode, where Thomson said a line from the film Crocodile Dundee: “That is not a knife this is a knife.”
Arbroath Sheriff Derek Pyle ordered Thomson to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within a year.