A sheriff has praised a man for making “a remarkable turnaround” after brandishing a knife at a shopworker.

Robert Nisbet, 26, of the city centre, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court recently after pleading guilty to two charges.

The first was being in possession of a knife and the second was behaving in a threatening and abusive manner.

The court heard that Nisbet was within Morrisons in Partick at around 2pm on April 4, 2023, when Felix Offorjama, a shopworker, had reason to speak with him.  

Nisbet began to walk away but then brandished a knife in his right hand.

He was asked to leave which he did and he headed towards Dumbarton Road.

Nisbet was traced by police, cautioned, and charged to which he made no reply.

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Nisbet’s lawyer told the court that this offence “changed his life”.

The defence solicitor said: “At that time he had been in a relationship that caused him to start taking drugs.

“This offence occurred and completely changed his life. He is a valued member of a group. It seems to be going well for him.

“He realises the seriousness of this and that someone in that position (the shopworker) shouldn’t have to deal with this.

“Given how well he has done your lordship could assist this man by way of a structured deferred sentence.”

Addressing Nisbet’s lawyer, Sheriff Vincent Lunny explained that a letter he had received prior to Nisbet’s sentencing had “changed everything”.

Sheriff Lunny said: “The letter makes it a very difficult case to sentence. It is remarkable and changes everything.”

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Nisbet’s defence solicitor replied: “He seems to be a bit of an anomaly. He has kept himself out of trouble apart from this and another matter in 2022.

“It appears he got himself into a bit of bother at that time. He has extracted himself from it and is doing exceptionally well.

“The letter states he’s helped 7000 people since starting with the group and works 336 hours there a month.

“It really is remarkable.”

Sheriff Lunny praised Nisbet for his “remarkable turnaround” since the offence.

He said: “He’s effectively doing a lot of unpaid work helping others. This was shoplifting gone wrong. He’s not a man of violence.

“There has been a remarkable turnaround. You should be going to jail for this or being put on a lengthy restriction of liberty order but at the moment that is not any good for you or the public.”

Sheriff Lunny placed Nisbet on a structured deferred sentence for three months.