A teenager who punched his mother’s partner and had a knife on him has been sentenced to community service.

Cameron Reekie, aged 17, of Newtown estate, Santon, admitted offences of common assault and possessing an offensive weapon and was ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work.

He appeared before magistrates last week.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that police were called to an incident between Reekie and his mother’s partner on January 7 at 4.35pm.

The man said that Reekie had brandished a knife at him.

Reekie’s mother said that her partner had come to pick her up and she had got in his car when Reekie had started swearing at the man.

The teenager was then said to have punched the man through the car window and walked away.

The man then got out and ran over to Reekie, which sparked a tussle between the pair.

Volatile

He was said to have got Reekie in a headlock and told him to respect his mother.

The mother went inside the house. She said that both her son and partner were volatile people.

She said she had then heard her partner shouting: ’You’re gonna pull a knife on me?’ and her son shouting: ’I want you dead.’

She said that her son had been drinking prior to the incident.

In court Reekie entered a basis of plea saying that he had the knife in his pocket because he had been using it for work purposes.

He said he had not brandished it but during the argument had put his hand in his pocket.

Defence advocate Peter Taylor said that if there had been no mention of a knife the incident would most likely have been diverted to the Youth Intervention Scheme.

Community service

Mr Taylor said that this was his client’s first offence and that he spent two nights in custody after his arrest.

The advocate asked that no compensation be awarded to the man saying: ’Both appear to have been as bad as each other.’

Mr Taylor added: ’Community service would provide a punishment and he will put back into the community.

’But also it’s designed to give rehabilitation and get him into a working environment and enhance his CV.’

Prosecutor Mr Swain said he would waive costs as the court heard Reekie had limited means and any costs were likely to be paid by his mother.