weapon of choice?

saw this in a newspaper article:

MAN BRANDISHED CHAINSAW AT REVELLERS


09:00 - 31 December 2003

An Aberdeen man who brandished a chainsaw at revellers waiting at a taxi rank in the city will have to wait to learn his fate.

Thomas McElhinney, 39, appeared from custody at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted conducting himself in a disorderly manner in Hadden Street on December 19 by brandishing a chainsaw.

McElhinney, of 6b Granton Place, was on bail at the time for other matters.

Fiscal depute Ken McAlpine told the court that the incident happened at about 3.45am near a taxi rank where there were about 15 people waiting.

The court heard that McElhinney was seen going to a skip, rummaging around in it and emerging with a chainsaw.

Mr McAlpine said McElhinney then raised the power tool above his head and approached the queue of people waiting for taxis.

The court heard how McElhinney tried to start the broken machine by pulling the cord for the starter mechanism.

When it would not start, he got angry and threw it into the middle of the road before slumping down on the pavement.

Defence agent Mike Allan said his client has a " fairly serious drink problem" and did not remember much about the incident.

Sheriff Graham Buchanan deferred sentence until January 9 and told McElhinney: "As you now realise, there is a real risk that you will be of danger to the community if you are at large over the New Year period.

"I will defer the matter and you will be detained."