by Paul Behan

A MAN phoned the emergency services and warned he was going to “kill someone” or “himself.”

And when police officers went to his aid, they discovered the man had a knife.

Barry McQuillan, 30, of Meldrum Street, Clydebank, appeared on indictment at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Tuesday and admitted having a knife, in Meldrum Street on May 25 this year, without a reasonable excuse or lawful authority.

The fiscal depute Sarah Healing outlined the circumstances of the case.

She said: “At around 10.30pm the accused called 999 but he failed to indicate which service he required, so he was put through to police control.”

McQuillan then told someone on the other end of the phone that he was going to “kill someone” then “kill himself” but hung up.

Ms Healing continued: “The number from which he called was billed to the accused and that information was passed on to the area control room.

“At 10.45pm officers called the number and it was answered by the accused. He informed them he was cycling and police were going to find a body. It was a plea for help.

“He hung up, but police called him straight back and he spoke with them again, telling them he was trying to get into his house.

Police were despatched and they arrived to find him standing outside his front door trying to gain entry to the property.

“He was heavily intoxicated, drinking a lot of cider.

“When asked if he called 999 he denied it but then admitted it, saying he only required police assistance to open the front door.

“Officers thought he should speak to a community psychiatric nurse but he then became argumentative and he was placed under arrest.

“At that stage he indicated he was concealing a weapon. And a search found a knife down his left trouser leg.”

McQuillan’s defence solicitor said there was no significant dispute about the facts but he did have “concern” about the narrative as outlined by the fiscal depute.

“Much of what my friend has said has only come to light in the last two to three days,” he said.

“Police statements were very light on detail. The cycling part is news to me, I only heard that this morning.”

In mitigation the defence solicitor said: “He was thinking of self harming. The calls made were a cry for help.

“He’s quite sanguine about the situation. He realises the seriousness of the offence.

“The GP did confirm he had been attending for a number of months in the lead-up for depression and an anxiety disorder, linked to alcohol but he’s been able to secure temporary work.”

Addressing the accused Sheriff William Gallacher said: “I can’t see how I can deal with you other than a custodial sentence.”

Sentence was deferred until Tuesday, December 20 in order to obtain a social work report and McQuillan was remanded in custody until that time.