A COUNTY man who became aggressive during an altercation with a man in North Berwick later tried to rob an elderly man at a cash machine while holding a knife.

Ryan Malcolm, 29, shouted threats of violence towards Guy Thomson while in possession of a knife or similar implement at the town’s Lodge Grounds last year. Two weeks later, Malcolm then uttered threats to rob an 82-year-old man at the cash machine outside Tesco in Haddington.

Malcolm looked over the man’s shoulder and looked at his PIN while shouting and swearing.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that he made threats to rob the 82-year-old while in possession of a knife or similar implement during the incident on September 24 last year.

Malcolm appeared by video link from HMP Edinburgh at the capital’s sheriff court last Monday, where the court was told he had served the equivalent of a nine-month prison sentence.

East Lothian Courier:

The Lodge Grounds. Image Ian Goodall, North Berwick Photographic Society

Sheriff Nigel Ross said that he was content to release Malcolm on a 12-month supervision order which will monitor his behaviour. Malcolm was also given a conduct requirement whereby he will have to attend any appointments for treatment to his mental health if required.

Malcolm admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by uttering threats of violence while in possession of a knife or similar and uttering threats towards Guy Thomson at the Lodge Grounds, North Berwick, on September 11 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by looking over the shoulder of an 82-year-old man, looking at his PIN, shouting, swearing and uttering threats to rob him, and presenting a knife at him at Tesco and Herdmanflatt, both Haddington, on September 24 last year.