Knife yob pulled a blade out in street

An engineer has narrowly avoided prison after pulling a knife on a stranger in Hamilton town centre.

- 

An engineer has narrowly avoided prison after pulling a knife on a stranger in Hamilton town centre.

Alan Black, who had been drinking alcohol, demanded to know what football team the man supported.

Later, after being arrested, he shouted sectarian abuse at police officers.

Black, 55, of Portsmouth, was handed a community payback order when he appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court, pictured, last week.

He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour and unlawful possession of a knife.

The court heard the incident happened on July 5, 2023, after he had completed a job in Lanarkshire.