A MAN terrified three young girls on a bus by singing sectarian songs while armed with a Stanley knife.
Raymond Andrew Derrick was jailed for three years at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Tue) for the “extremely” drunken incident, during which he was ‘shouting, swearing and stamping his feet’.
The court heard three girls – aged 13, 14 and 15 – were among the passengers on the bus between Tranent, East Lothian, and Edinburgh, in November 2010.
Prosecutor John Kirk said that Derrick, 29, “was drunk” when he boarded the number 26 bus.
“He started singing sectarian songs, shouting, swearing and stamping his feet,” said Mr Kirk.
“The accused then stated he would slash people, and dropped out of his bag a Stanley knife.”
A brave passenger, who was not named in court, then intervened.
Ashamed
The fiscal depute continued: “After that another passenger got up and made the accused sit down.
“The three children ran off downstairs to report the matter.
“Police boarded the bus at Waterloo Place and detained the accused.
“They recovered the Stanley knife.
“On being detained he said: “I’ve had a singsong on the bus.”
Mr Kirk said police found him to be ‘extremely drunk.’
Derrick’s defence agent Coleen McCaig said: “It’s accepted that there is no apparent alternative to custody in this case.
“I ask your lordship to take into account three factors.
“The first is he is deeply ashamed of what happened on that bus that day.
“He has resolved to tackle his abuse of alcohol by seeking to attend appropriate classes during his sentence.
“He is not a hopeless case. He has a long term partner of seven years with whom he has twins aged two.”
Derrick, whose address was listed as Barlinnie Prison, admitted a charge of breach of the peace aggravated by religious prejudice and a separate charge of possessing a knife.
Sentencing, Sheriff James Scott said: “I’m not surprised you’re ashamed of your conduct. This must have been very frightening for the people on the bus, particularly the three children.”
He said Derrick had a ‘substantial record’ for crimes of violence.”
Sentence was backdated to 16 December.
