Man wearing pig mask terrorises two women after pouring liquid through letterbox

19 September 2023 , 10:23

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Riki Burnside, 34, appeared at a sheriff court (Image: Daily Record / Media Scotland)

A man wearing a rubber pig mask terrified two women at their front door before pouring liquid through their letter box and was later found carrying a knife.

Riki Burnside, 34, put on the bizarre mask and scared Louisa Duddy and Michelle Deacon when he made a noise outside their Edinburgh flat at about 1am. Frightened by the creepy costume, they told him to leave, a court heard.

But the two women were then left even more worried when an unknown substance started coming through their letterbox and Burnside was seen putting on latex gloves. Police were called and arrested Burnside who was found to be carrying a six-inch blade.

Burnside appeared at Edinburgh's sheriff court and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and knife possession. Fiscal depute Matthew Miller told the court how Ms Duddy and Ms Deacon had woken up due to noises at their front door.

Burnside appeared outside a flat wearing a rubber pig mask (Daily Record / Media Scotland)

He poured a liquid through the letterbox of the flat (Daily Record / Media Scotland)

"Ms Deacon has approached the door and observed a man and quickly shut the door again," he said, reported EdinburghLive. "Ms Duddy then opened the door and both women have seen Mr ­Burnside wearing a pig face mask. Burnside asked them, 'Is Michelle there?' and held an object in his hand.

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"Both Ms Duddy and Ms Deacon have been caused fear and alarm by Mr Burnside and the attire he was wearing. They told Mr Burnside to leave and shut the door. They then observed a liquid coming through the letterbox. The liquid fell down and saturated the floor. Ms Duddy contacted the police.

Burnside was wearing a rubber pig mask (Daily Record / Media Scotland)

"Ms Deacon was looking through the living room window while this was going on and saw Mr Burnside, still wearing the pig mask, putting on a pair of clear latex gloves." Mr Miller said the liquid was analysed and found to be mineral oil, which is not flammable or corrosive.

He said it was a "rather unusual affair", and it appeared Burnside had met Michelle once but they weren't friends. Sheriff Ian Anderson deferred sentence on Burnside, of Saughton Mains, until next month for reports.

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Iona Young