Man jailed for threatening to shoot staff at Perth Job Centre

A man has been jailed for threatening to shoot staff at the Job Centre in Perth.

Gary Askew previously admitted making the chilling warning on the phone to a Job Centre employee based in Grimsby, whom he had called because he had problems with his benefits.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that the 48-year-old is banned from setting foot in any of the service’s premises. Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said Askew sounded drunk during the call to Laura McNamara on September 2.

She said: “Witness McNamara was in the call centre in Grimsby. She took a call from the accused. His speech was slurred and he told her he was banned from every Job Centre in the country.

“He stated that he hated Ms McNamara and hated the Job Centre. He said that he was going to go to the Job Centre in Perth and shoot a member of staff.

“She was alarmed by the menacing and threatening communication and terminated the call.”

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said the painter and decorator, of High Street, Perth, maintained that what had been said was “nonsense” and Askew had become sober following the incident.

Sheriff Fiona Tait jailed Askew for 270 days.