A “show off” teenager who went out in two Perthshire towns armed with a machete has been told to turn his life around.
The 17-year-old hid the 40cm blade inside his trousers when he hung out with pals in Alyth town centre.
And he kept the weapon concealed when he took a bus to Blairgowrie and tried to get into a pub.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, returned to Perth Sheriff Court this week having previously admitted having a bladed weapon in public on October 23, last year.
Sheriff William Wood told the youngster he was unsettled about his progress on the Right Track programme for young offenders.
“I’m very concerned about you,” the sheriff said. “You come before the court as a child.
“You might not feel that way, but in the eyes of the law, that is what you are – a child.”
The sheriff added: “This was an act of stupidity and bravado.
“But you have an opportunity here to do some work and reset yourself.”
Referring to a background report prepared on the teen’s behalf, the sheriff said: “If you continue to abuse drugs whenever you have cash, I can tell you that a couple of years down the line you will rue that decision.
“If you turn to criminality, then that is a path that will lead to jail.”
Sheriff Wood deferred sentence until July 13. “I want to see a much better report next time,” he said.
Blade tucked into waistband
Fiscal depute Joanne Milne said the teenager met two friends at 6pm.
“When they met up, he showed his friends he had a litre bottle of vodka.
“He also showed them he had a machete tucked into his trouser waistband.
“It was about 40cm in length.”
Ms Milne said the youth and his friends sat on benches in the town square before visiting a takeaway.
“One of the workers was informed by a customer that the accused was in possession of a machete,” said Ms Ritchie.
“The worker looked and saw that the accused appeared to have an object concealed in his trouser leg.
“The same witness also observed the accused and his two friends getting on a bus to Blairgowrie.
“He contacted the police.”
The bus arrived in Blairgowrie later that evening.
“The accused still had the machete with him at this time,” said Ms Ritchie.
“The group made their way to a public house but they were denied entry by staff.
“They made their way back to the bus station but the accused went in a different direction.”
Police approached the two friends and searched them for weapons.
Nothing was recovered but they told police about their friend, who was then traced at 10pm at the bus terminus.
“He was searched but he no longer had the weapon,” Ms Ritchie told the court.
He was arrested and taken to Perth police station, where he was cautioned and charged.
He volunteered to show officers where he had left the machete – in a bush in Leslie Street.
Solicitor Mike Tavendale said: “It appears that he was simply showing off this item to his friends.
“There was never any intention on his part to use it.”
He said: “When his friends decided to jump on the bus to Blairgowrie, he didn’t have time to get back to his house and leave it there.
“He readily accepts the stupidity of this.”
