Bathgate chippy knife rammy halted by CS gas

Nov 19 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

POLICE had to use CS gas on a drunk who had been waving a knife around in a Bathgate chip shop.

Matthew Teven staggered into Valente’s Chip Shop in George Place around 10.20pm on November 11 this year.

Staff at the shop could see he was very drunk and he made no attempt to order or buy anything.

Instead, the 55-year-old took a wooden handled knife out his pocket and began waving it around.

Employees called the police and Teven left the chip shop but continued to wave the knife around indiscriminately.

Cops arrived and asked Teven to put the knife down but he refused.

Officers then used CS spray on Teven to contain him which caused him to fall to the ground and drop the knife.

Appearing from custody at Livingston Sheriff Court the next day Teven, whose address was given as Marchwood Crescent, Bathgate, pled guilty to causing a breach of the peace by acting in a disorderly manner and brandishing a knife.

His solicitor, Neil Robertson, told the court his client had consumed a large amount of alcohol on the night in question.

“Far more than was good for him,” Mr Robertson added.

“He does not recall much about the incident but accepts his guilt in the matter.”

Sheriff Graeme Warner said he would have fined Teven £300 but reduced the penalty to £200 in all because of the accused’s earlier guilty plea.