Sheriff locks up high-risk knife offender after Motherwell tower block incident
A sheriff locked up a high-risk knife offender after describing the case as "depressing".
Aiden Gaitens claimed he was carrying a machete for protection when police found him on the ninth floor of a Motherwell tower block.
But Sheriff John Hamilton told the 20-year-old: "Young men and knives, especially machetes, is not a good combination.
"Your reason for having this blade is flawed because knives don't protect people, they just hurt people."
Gaitens appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He admitted carrying an offensive weapon in Barons Tower on August 11.
Police were called to a disturbance at the tower block about 8.30pm. When they reached a stairwell on the ninth floor they saw Gaitens brandishing a large machete.
A short chase followed then Gaitens turned and brandished the blade at the officers pursuing him.
One officer aimed his taser gun at Gaitens and ordered him to drop the machete which he did.
At the time of the incident Gaitens was on a supervised release order after receiving a 23-month sentence for a number of charges.
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These included striking a man with a knife in Tollhouse Gardens, Bellshill.
Social workers have assessed Gaitens as at "maximum risk" of re-offending.
Defence lawyer Matthew McGovern said his client had a difficult childhood and urged the sheriff to impose a non-custodial sentence.
Mr McGovern stated: "There is enormous scope for intervention through supervision."
But Sheriff Hamilton imposed a 12-month custodial sentence and said it would have been "significantly longer" had he not been so young.
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He told Gaitens: "This case is quite depressing. Your background is appalling, which is not your fault, and your record is dreadful, with a number of convictions involving weapons.
"There have been interventions and none seem to have worked."
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