A MAN who went on a rampage through Saltcoats and Ardrossan has been jailed for more than two years.  Steven Wilson, 24, was apprehended as he tried to steal a boat from Ardrossan Marina and has been in custody since November.  Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week heard that  Wilson entered a house in Old Raise Road in Saltcoats around 9pm on November 3.  He was heavily under the influence of alcohol at this time and he was known to those in the house who let him in.  Wilson entered the bedroom and had a discussion with one of the males within the house before saying he was going to the toilet.

The complainer in the charge heard Wilson enter the kitchen before he came back with two knives which belonged to the man’s mother.  He clashed the knives together then moved towards the man and struck him on the left hand side of his face, causing Wilson to injure himself in the process before the man raised his arm and his clothing caught the knife.  The man began to shout at Wilson, which alerted other family members who helped in pushing him from the house.

At that stage, Wilson was still in possession of the knives.  Shortly afterwards, a woman was returning to her home when she noticed Wilson entering her driveway area and pulling out a knife from the waistband of his trousers.

The woman said that there was no-one else in the house and Wilson told her to go in to her house.  Another woman in the house was in the living room area in the process of contacting the police when Wilson, still in possession of a knife, told her to put the phone down.

She put it in her pocket and said that it was off but it wasn’t.  He tried to get it from her pocket but he was pushed away and she had noticed his cut to his hand.  The roofer demanded the woman’s hooded top and he took this, headed to the bathroom area before leaving with the top.  Police were contacted and the CID were contacted with a description shortly afterwards.  Around 11pm that same night, a man was working as the harbourmaster at Clyde Marina in Ardrossan when he heard shouting and noted Wilson on a sail boat named Zelda.  He approached the boat, which had been untied, as it was drifting away and caught the rope before resecuring it.  Police and ambulance staff were then contacted and Wilson was arrested following his attendance at Accident and Emergency to treat the cut on his hand.

The doctor there said that he had psychiatric issues and had suicidal thoughts.  James Irvine, defending, said that although he recognised it as a very serious issue that would have been terrifying for those concerned a mention had to be made to the mental health issues of his client.

He said that Wilson was still on medication and prior to the incident, he had stopped taking it due to side effects that had occurred.  He added: “Mr Wilson has very limited recollection of the events, he remembers bits and pieces and has flashbacks.” Mr Irvine added that his client was a father of two and had been employed as a roofer in the past and that his job would remain open from a company that he previously worked with.  He said: “I have taken time to discuss things with Mr Wilson and he presents well and stable.

"He wants a future and wants to be there for his children.

"His health is the best it can be and he understands custody is likely.”  Presiding Sheriff, Brian Murphy, said: “I have considered all options and previous charges.

"This is extremely serious and would have had a traumatic effect on your victims.”  Wilson was sentenced to a total of 28 months, backdated to November 5.

He will be supervised on his release for a period of six months.  Sheriff Murphy added: “There is no other sentence appropriate.”