SNS GroupA woman who pointed a knife at police officers while her home was being repossessed has been ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work.
Catherine Anderton, 68, lashed out at two men at the property in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, on November 9 2021.
Anderton – who had suffered financial issues – was enraged after removal men had entered her home of 25 years to take away furniture.
The concerned workers contacted the police who later found Anderton clutching the blade and a matchbox.
Anderton refused to put down the weapon when requested before she made a failed attempt to strike a match.
One of the officers claimed that there had been a smell of flammable liquid in the property.
Anderton was found guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.
The court heard from a removal company driver who attended Anderton’s initially home with two colleagues.
The witness stated that an “agitated and distressed” Anderton attended the property.
Prosecutor Louise James asked the man how Anderton spoke and he replied: “Quite upset and angry sounding.”
The men left the property and the police were contacted.
A police constable told the court that he attended at the front of the property while another PC went to the back.
The officer claimed that he heard his colleague shout: “Put the knife down.”
He stated that he ran around the back to find Anderton holding a knife and a matchbox in the kitchen.
He added: “She had the knife pointed towards myself and my colleague.
“She then tried to strike one of the matches when I entered through the back door.
“There was a strong smell like turps or methylated spirits.”
The officer claimed that he grabbed the wrist of Anderton which had the knife and took the blade from her.
Sheriff Mark McGuire told the court when delivering his verdict that he accepted the evidence of the Crown witnesses.
He added: “I’m satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that her behaviour would have caused a reasonable person to suffer fear and alarm.
“Her conduct caused [one officer] sufficient alarm that he left his position at the front and moved to support his colleague at the back door.
“I accept she attempted to light a match and did so with there being a smell of turpentine or flammable liquid in the area.”
Anderton shook her head and stated: “I didn’t do that.”
Paul Mullen, defending, told the court that his client, now of Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, has one previous conviction for speeding.
The lawyer said: “She stayed in that property for 25 years and due to financial issues she had been evicted.
“That had been contested vigorously by her and she was perhaps surprised or in shock to see people removing her property from that address that day.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
