Rapper who sparked armed police swoop was 'under attack'

A rapper involved in a knife incident which saw armed police called out before he was due to headline a gig in Aberdeen claimed he was himself being attacked.

Neriya Adiukwu, 20, was detained after the disturbance outside the Lemon Tree in August last year.

His lawyer told a court Adiukwu was attacked before appearing at the Between the Lines hip hop event but picked up a knife dropped by one of his assailants and lunged at the attackers.

Adiukwu admitted knife offences at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, where he was ordered to carry out unpaid work and be under supervision, as an alternative to custody.

The court heard that on 16 August last year an event for up-and-coming hip hop artists was due to be held at The Lemon Tree in the evening, and Adiukwu was due to headline the show.

However, at the sound check time in the afternoon a disturbance broke out outside the venue.

One witness saw Adiukwu in a group of about seven or eight people when another group of men wearing black clothing and balaclavas ran towards them.

The court heard that a man dressed in a blue tracksuit was seen making a stabbing motion towards the other men with what appeared to be a knife.

A police officer driving to begin her shift saw men fighting and chasing each other before one raised what she believed to be a large knife or machete above his head.

Multiple police units arrived on the scene but found neither the accused nor any of the other people involved.

Police reviewed CCTV footage and saw that Adiukwu appeared to have been assaulted by the group. Adiukwu was then seen to retaliate by lunging at them with a large knife before re-entering The Lemon Tree.

He was found in the bathroom of the venue wearing the same clothing that was seen on camera.

The Between the Lines event was cancelled due to what the venue described at the time as "unforeseen circumstances".

Adiukwu admitted brandishing a knife and attempting to strike people with it, and being in possession of a knife.

Defence solicitor Ian Woodward-Nutt said father-of-one Adiukwu was a rap artist who was finding success, and had signed to a local music label.

He said masked men had turned up to attack him.

"He was not looking for trouble, but unfortunately trouble came looking for him," Mr Woodward-Nutt said.

The solicitor said the incident was brief, and it was the other men who had been armed initially.

He said the knife was dropped by one of the assailants, and Adiukwu picked it up, chased them and lunged at them.

"He accepts he went beyond what could be considered to be self-defence," he told the court.

Mr Woodward-Nutt asked for a non-custodial sentence to be considered, given the early guilty plea, mitigating circumstances, and his client's age.

Sheriff Craig Findlater said they were "serious" offences, but he considered that a community-disposal would be appropriate as a direct alternative to custody.

Adiukwu was given a community payback order of 24 months, meaning he will be under supervision, and must also carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.