Bellshill yob (34) admits chasing man in street with samurai sword

May 20 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

A BELLSHILL yob who cased another man in the street with a samurai sword is in custody this week facing sentence.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday, 34-year-old Thomas Cochrane pleaded guilty to possessing the weapon in Bellshill’s Douglas Drive on March 18 this year.

At around midnight, Cochrane, of Kirklee Road, was spotted by police officers making his way along the street wielding the ornamental sword as he pursued another man.

Fiscal depute Lisa Hilton said: “At around midnight, the two police witnesses were on patrol, driving in Douglas Drive, Bellshill, when they observed the accused chasing an unknown male along the street.

“They also noticed that the accused had a samurai sword in his hand and was pursuing the other man.

“Upon seeing the police in the vehicle, the accused stopped and turned around, before running back in the direction from which he came.

“The police officers immediately pursued the accused, who then dropped the samurai sword.”

Ms Hilton stated that police officers found that the blade seized was just over 18-inches long.

When cops asked Cochrane why he had been chasing the male with the sword, said Ms Hilton, the accused is reported to have swore and said that the other man had been banging on his door.

She added: “The accused was then taken to Bellshill police station where he was processed in the usual way.”

Cochrane’s defence solicitor confirmed that the yob was on probation at the time of the offence, as well as being subject to a bail order from Airdrie Sheriff Court.

In June 2008, Cochrane was put on probation for a period of three years at the court in Airdrie after an incident at Monklands General Hospital.

The yob was convicted of banging his head off a glass screen and demanding doctors at the hospital give him drugs.

Cochrane was shouting and swearing, and repeatedly banging his head against the glass panel and eventually damaged it.

Whilst at the hospital, he was acting in an aggressive and menacing manner towards staff and demanded they give him medication, a court heard.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court last Friday, Sheriff Marie Smart deferred sentence on Cochrane until June 10, stating that she was obliged to call for a range of reports on the accused as well as probation progress report.

The 34-year-old will be remanded in custody until that date.