A young Coatbridge dad, previously jailed for a bleach attack, is once again behind bars for threatening a man with a knife. Martin McKenzie, 24, brandished a blade after being asked to pick up a discarded wine bottle outside a block of flats. The incident took place in Ash Road, Cumbernauld, on May 13, 2023, while McKenzie was on bail.
McKenzie, along with some friends, had been drinking outside the block of flats when they were approached by a woman from the top floor flat. She requested them to pick up the bottle they had thrown and asked them to leave the area. When a male neighbour came out to intervene, McKenzie put on a balaclava and drew a knife, threatening to stab the man. Fortunately, he did not harm anyone and fled the scene shortly after. He was later apprehended by the police.
At Airdrie Sheriff Court this week, McKenzie was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to charges of threatening or abusive behaviour and carrying a knife. This is not McKenzie’s first encounter with the law, as he had served a 16-month sentence for a previous assault involving bleach just a year before.
Defence lawyer Simon Gilmour highlighted McKenzie’s struggles with mental health issues and his desire to avoid further incarceration. Despite this, Sheriff Tony McGlennan considered McKenzie’s criminal record and the severity of the recent offence, deeming another jail term necessary.
McKenzie’s actions serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of violent behaviour and the importance of addressing underlying mental health challenges to prevent further harm to oneself and others.