Axe maniac who threatened sister with blade given chance to turn life around

An axe maniac who prowled the streets with the weapon after threatening his sister with the blade is being given a chance to turn his life around.

Gary Murdoch lost the plot during a drinking session after having an argument with his sister over relationships.

Murdoch waved the axe in the face of his sister and her pal, leading to another friend stepping in as he terrorised the young women.

He was pushed to the floor as tempers flared at his home in Paisley, Renfrewshire, before his sister fled, with him following behind.

And officers found him in possession of the axe an hour later, after the alarm had been raised.

Murdoch, 22, was due to be sentenced over the incidents, which took place when he was drunk, at Paisley Sheriff Court this week.

But the case against him has been adjourned for a Drug Treatment and Testing Order assessment - to see if he can get free from drink and drugs.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to two charges - possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and behaving in a threatening or abusive way.

He admitted he had behaved aggressively, shouted and swore and brandished the axe.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Decla O'Connor explained: "The witness Stephanie Murdoch is the accused's 21-year-old sister.

"The witness Lana Gilchrist is a friend of Stephanie Murdoch.

"At around 11am on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the witnesses Murdoch and Gilchrist attended the accused Gary Murdoch's home address.

"There were two other people in the property, the witnesses Ciaran Kelly and Keira Reilly.

"The witnesses Murdoch and Gilchrist noted the accused was heavily under the influence of alcohol."

The prosecutor said the girls then began arguing with Murdoch about Miss Gilchrist's relationships.

The prosecutor explained: "The accused became angry and suddenly stood up from his seated position, picked up an axe and began to wave it around the room and approach the witnesses Murdoch and Gilchrist, brandishing the axe in their proximity.

"The witnesses Murdoch and Gilchrist became scared and fearful of the accused.

"The witness Kelly then placed himself between the accused and the witnesses Murdoch and Gilchrist and pushed the accused to the floor, telling him to stop.

"The accused then stood back up and began shouting, 'get the f*** out my house'.

"The witnesses Murdoch and GIlchrist left the locus and contacted police on returning home."

The police were contacted just before 12pm, and officers found him in Love Street, Paisley, just before 1pm, with the axe in a blue carrier bag.

Murdoch admitted his guilt in June and was remanded in custody for background reports to be prepared ahead of sentencing.

Sheriff Bruce Erroch KC said at the time: "You are a young man and I want to have the full picture available to me."

And when the case called in court on Thursday, it was further adjourned for the Drug Treatment and Testing Order assessment to be carried out.

The decision was taken after the court heard it may benefit Murdoch, and society as a whole, for him to get clean.

His lawyer had previously said he was "realistic he is going to receive a custodial sentence".

But Murdoch, who is being held on remand at Low Moss Prison, Bishopbriggs, could now go unpunished over the incidents.

He has spent a lengthy time behind bars awaiting prosecution and sentence and is now set to learn his fate next month.