Jail for homeless man who scared boy on train in Sutherland with knife

A boy who was travelling on a train in Sutherland was frightened when another passenger stared at him and then slammed a Swiss Army style knife onto a table.

The matter was reported to the conductor who moved the youth to another carriage on the Tain to Brora service and then informed the police of the incident, which happened on December 31, 2020.

But Inverness Sheriff Court heard that 51-year-old Philip Rake committed more offences two days later when police got a call about him acting suspiciously wearing black clothing in woods near Lairg on January 2, 2021.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was told that officers had difficulty in engaging with Rake who gave a false name and date of birth to them.

Fiscal depute Karen Poke said: “They suspected these details were false and as he kept putting his hands in his pocket, they detained him for a search. But before it began, he handed over a lock knife. While he was in transit to Alness Police Station, he was abusive to police.”

Rake, of no fixed abode, was released to appear at Tain Sheriff Court and failed to turn up. A warrant was issued for his arrest but it wasn’t able to be executed until February this year due to his transient lifestyle.

Rake, who was remanded in custody, pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing knives in a public place, two of threatening or abusive behaviour, attempting to pervert the course of justice and a breach of a police undertaking to appear in court.

He represented himself and told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank: “I was going through a bad time. I want to get back into a life more stable and have been told by social workers that on my release, I should present myself to the local authority for accommodation. I don’t want to be vulnerable any more.”

The sheriff read a background report on Rake and told him: “I note that you did not intend to cause fear or alarm to the boy, you were having relationship difficulties at the time and were homeless, travelling around the area.”

He jailed Rake for 20 months, backdated to February 10, 2025.