Stirlingshire cop's family threatened

Nov 13 2009 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Friday

A MAN made chilling threats to a police officer and his family.

Patrick McKeown told the officer: “I’m going to slit you from side to side”.

And he added: “I know where you stay and your family. You’re all getting it.”

At Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday how McKeown (31) admitted causing a breach of the peace in Hilton, Cowie, on June 30.

Fiscal depute Hayley Greene told the court: “It was 10.20pm and police witnesses were in Cowie to trace the accused. He was to be detained.”

McKeown, of Tam O’ Shanter Drive, Cowie, approached them with his hand in his pocket and told them: “F*** off. If you think you’re lifting me you’ve not a f****** chance”.

They told him to take his hand from his pocket as they thought he might be armed.

He was eventually handcuffed and it was while he was in a police car that he made the threats.

His tirade of abuse towards the police went on at the police station, where he continued to shout, swear and make threats. On being cautioned and charged McKeown said: “I think that’s rubbish”.

Defence agent Ken Dalling said his client had no previous convictions for violence or disorder. He added that McKeown was later found to be unarmed and that there was no suggestion that the threats made would actually have been carried out.

Mr Dalling said that McKeown had stayed out of trouble since the incident but added: “This was very unpleasant behaviour and he accepts that.”

Sheriff Andrew Cubie deferred sentence until March and ordered McKeown to stay out of trouble until then.