A 32-YEAR-OLD man who produced a knife during an appointment with a doctor at a Borders medical practice has been placed on supervision for the next 12 months.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told later that day at Hawick Police Station Michael Regan made threats of violence against the doctor.

He pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a knife and also behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the medical practice and at Hawick Police Station on February 2.

Prosecutor Emma Laing told a previous hearing the accused had turned up for his appointment around noon.

She added that he then pulled a knife from his jacket and removed it from the sheath.

The fiscal said that Regan gave the impression he carried the knife around with him for personal protection and that he did not trust people.

The doctor told police that Regan remained calm during the appointment but felt he should report it to police as Regan said he carried the offensive weapon regularly.

Ms Laing said police officers caught up with Regan walking a dog on Wilton Hill around 7.40pm and the bladed article was taken off him.

She said that Regan repeatedly asked if it was the doctor that had reported him and after being taken into custody said he wanted to make another appointment so he could punch him in the face.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client had experienced significant mental health problems. 

He referred to the doctor’s comments that the accused represented a bigger risk to himself rather than anyone else and that he had remained calm during the appointment.

Sheriff Kevin McCarron said that he had initially felt custody was inevitable.

But he took into account Regan’s mental health problems and added that the way he had produced the knife in the surgery was unusual.

The sheriff imposed a community payback order with 12 months supervision and a night-time curfew at his home in Howegate, Hawick, between 9pm and 7am for six months.

In addition, a Non-Harassment Order was imposed for two years banning him from having any contact with the doctor or entering the medical practice. 

Sheriff McCarron warned Regan that if he breached the Non-Harassment Order he would receive a “substantial” custodial sentence.