A MUSSELBURGH man held a fork to his own neck as police officers entered his home, after he claimed that his partner had lost his dog.

Steven Archibald was heard causing a commotion within his home, leading a concerned neighbour to telephone the police at about 12.50am on November 28 last year.

Police officers arrived at the property on the town’s MacBeth Moir Road, where they found Archibald in “a very agitated state” and he was said to have been “hostile towards constables”.

The officers heard that someone else was inside the home and, after having “concerns” for that person, they entered the flat.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told that, after two police officers entered the property, 48-year-old Archibald then “ran to the door and locked the two PCs inside” and stated that no more police officers were being allowed in.

He was shouting and swearing during the incident and made threats to the officers by shouting “what are you going to do” and “this will be the last thing you do”.

The court heard that Archibald then fell onto a sofa, where he “pulled out a fork and held it to his neck” before eventually dropping the implement.

The front door was subsequently opened and further police officers entered the home, before Archibald was cautioned and charged.

Solicitor Ross Gardner told the court that Archibald had become upset after his partner had lost his dog earlier that evening, leading to him shouting and swearing within his home.

The lawyer said that the dog was “a psychological crutch for him” and the pet was eventually found following a search of the local area.

The court heard that unemployed Archibald suffered from mental health difficulties and was prescribed medication to help him deal with his conditions.

Sheriff John Cook decided to defer sentence on Archibald for six months for him to be of good behaviour.

Archibald pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting, acting in an aggressive manner, locking a door preventing police officers entering or leaving, repeatedly uttering threats of violence and brandishing a fork at an address at MacBeth Moir Road, Musselburgh, on November 28 last year.