An Angus man tried to stab an 87-year-old pensioner in the mistaken belief he was having a secret affair with his girlfriend.
Jealous Douglas Wilson, from Forfar, lunged several times at terrified Philip Nelson with the knife and was only fended off by the pensioner’s brave carer.
Wilson – who was on bail – also lunged at another man and then stormed into a random family’s home to try to hide from the police and scared a child so much they fled and hid under a bed.
Wilson, 34, was jailed for three years at Dundee Sheriff Court after he admitted a series of charges – including assaulting police officers – on March 26.
Depute fiscal Vicki Bell told the court: “The accused’s partner was assisting Mr Nelson with some cleaning. She told him she was in a relationship with a male, but he was excessively jealous and she didn’t want him to know she was making money from cleaning.
“Mr Allen is the neighbour. The accused knocked on his door and asked where Mr Nelson lived. Mr Nelson was in the company of his carer when he heard the door.
“The accused was extremely angry and launched a tirade of abuse, calling him a dirty old man and threatening to cut his throat.
“He pushed Mr Nelson against the wall. He saw the accused pull out a knife and lunge towards him. He had a second knife that fell on the ground.”
Carer Louise Fairweather tried to protect the pensioner but Wilson told his victim: “I don’t care if you are 87.”
When Mr Allen arrived, Wilson turned and ran at him while lunging forward with the knife.
Wilson, who was under the influence of something, dropped his knife before picking it up and running off. He was chased on foot by police and ran into a family home.
They managed to push him out, but were left traumatised by the incident.
Several police battled to bring him under control as he headbutted one, kicked another and tried to bite one while laughing and saying he had hepatitis.
Wilson admitted attacking Mr Nelson by pushing him against a wall and repeatedly lunging at him with a knife in Viewmount, Forfar.
He also admitted assaulting Steven Allen by lunging at him with the knife, and entering a home in Castle Street uninvited while hiding from police.
Wilson admitted causing PC Craig Mollison to fall down a flight of stairs during a struggle and trying to bite him while claiming to have hepatitis C, and admitted attacking PC Steven Milne by repeatedly kicking him on the head to his injury.
Solicitor Billy Rennie, defending, said: “He is the first to accept this behaviour is atrocious.
“He’s very much a Jekyll and Hyde character.”
