Falkirk man threatened to shoot ex-partner and kill police

Dean Prentice, Birnam Place, Falkirk, vowed to cut the throat of an officer following a night in that turned seriously sour.

The 50-year-old appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday.

He had pleaded guilty to behaving threateningly at his home on November 6 by shouting, swearing and uttering threats of violence towards his former partner, while on bail.

Prentice also admitted shouting, swearing and uttering threats towards police and making threats of violence about his former partner at Falkirk Police Station, as well as being in possession of cannabis that same day.

Procurator fiscal depute Ann Orr said Prentice and the woman had been in a relationship from January 2018 until May this year and had remained “on friendly terms” prior to the incident.

Trouble flared after Prentice invited his ex and a neighbour to his home for a drink.

Ms Orr continued: “About 10pm, the woman discovered that one of the company had become so intoxicated they could no longer stand and was trying to help her leave.

“The accused seems to have become involved and at that point she had said to him to get this intoxicated friend out.

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“He began to shout and swear at her, saying ‘I hate you’ and ‘I’ll kill you’. She said she would contact police. They arrived and found the house to be in a state of disarray.

“The complainer had taken a video of him swearing at her and he was arrested, taken out to a police vehicle and searched. He had just over 90 grams of cannabis in his pocket.

“He was thereafter taken to the police office in Falkirk and began to make threats towards the officers, including ‘I’ll cut your throat’; ‘Next time I see you, you’re dead’; ‘Next time I see you, I’m going to tear out your throat’.

“He was calling them ‘scum’ and said, ‘Give me a gun and I’ll shoot her’. They took this to mean he was referring to the complainer.”

Defence solicitor Andy Bryson told Sheriff Derek Hamilton a fight had broken out between two women that resulted in Prentice’s home being damaged.

The solicitor also described the situation as having been “fuelled by drink”.

Mr Bryson added: “He has a number of convictions of a domestic nature.

“He went to his GP and was referred to a psychologist before this offence. He recognised he has a difficulty with his temperament.

“There are underlying alcohol and abuse patterns of behaviour.”

Addressing Prentice directly, Sheriff Hamilton said: “You have a deplorable record for domestically aggravated offences.

“The initial incident concerns me. The abuse to the police officers concerns me and the threats to your partner are all pretty dreadful.

“You made a threat to shoot this individual. That tips you over the edge.

“You may think it was a hollow threat. I can’t take any risks on that because of your record.”

Prentice was placed behind bars for four months.

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