Masked thug armed with knife threatened man after being told to pick up wine bottle

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A masked thug armed with a knife threatened a man after being told to pick up a discarded wine bottle.

Martin McKenzie, from Coatbridge, and his drinking pals had been asked to move away from a block of flats where they had gathered.

McKenize, 23, of Viewfield Road, appeared at Airdrie Sheriff Court this week.

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He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour and carrying a knife in Ash Road, Cumbernauld, on May 13 last year while on bail.

Kevin Morrow, prosecuting, said a woman was in her top-floor flat shortly before 6pm.

She saw McKenzie, another man and three females outside and they appeared to be intoxicated.

Mr Morrow told the court: "The woman saw a member of the group had thrown a Buckfast bottle to the ground.

"She opened her window and challenged the group, asking them to pick up the bottle and telling them, 'this is not your street'.

"She then went downstairs to ask them to leave the area at which point McKenzie put a balaclava over his head.

"The woman knocked on the door of a neighbour, who came outside.

"At this point McKenzie drew a knife and brandished it towards the man, saying, 'I'll f*****g stab you'.

"Fortunately, he didn't make contact with anyone and was encouraged by others in his group to leave.

"He was arrested by police at a wooded area a short time later."

McKenzie has just completed a 16-month jail sentence for throwing bleach over a man at a house in Coatbridge.

Defence agent Simon Gilmour said he is currently under a post-release supervision order and is doing unpaid community work in relation to another case.

Sheriff Tony McGlennan deferred sentence until January for background reports.

The sheriff continued bail but warned McKenzie: "Given the gravity of this offence and your record, custody must be at the forefront of my mind."

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