A pensioner arrived at a man’s house with an arsenal of weapons, including an axe, knives and a container of sulphuric acid, to try to get a signed confession of historic abuse.
Perth Sheriff Court was told 61-year-old Joy Thomson, of Whiteloch Avenue, Blairgowrie, arrived at the man’s house with the axe and knives concealed in her clothing and polythene bags that had plant spray containers with sulphuric acid and CS and pepper sprays in them.
The court heard how officers later found documents in her home stating Thomson, who is receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital in Glasgow, wanted to extract a confession from the man.
Depute Fiscal Michael Sweeney said she had not seen the man for around 20 years but turned up at his home and he agreed to speak to her.
“The accused began talking about claims of a sexual assault while in the man’s kitchen,” he said.
“The man became aware of some movement behind the accused and saw her holding an axe. Both of them then had hold of it before the accused managed to get the woman outside, lock the door and phone the police.”
Officers arrived at around 4.05pm and found the accused in the garden.
The court heard how the accused was taken to Murray Royal Hospital in Perth along with her belongings. Mr Sweeney said a staff member later noticed there was a “strong smell” emanating from the polythene bags and contacted the police.
“Detectives arrived and plant spray containers were later examined and found to have sulphuric acid in one, while both CS and pepper sprays were discovered,” Mr Sweeney added.
“Forensic tests were also carried out on the axe and the accused’s DNA was found on it.”
Thomson admitted that she attempted to strike the man with an axe at a property in Perthshire on December 23, 2016.
She also admitted having four knives and an axe in her possession.
Thomson pled guilty to a further charge that on December 23 and 24, 2016, she had Black Sabre pepper spray along with CS spray in containers.
Sentence was deferred until April 17 for background reports.
