A 77-year-old man who walks with a walker and is illiterate and unemployed is charged with threatening to stab a bank employee.

The incident was reported on the weekend.

A bail hearing was held for Allan Whitecap today in North Battleford Provincial Court.

Officials say he has a long criminal record going back to 1956…mostly for failure to appear although there are three asaults.

The Crown was opposed to his release, based on the nature of the threat and his long criminal record.

The defence however maintained he is an elderly man with a walker and although the threat was no doubt scary, he’s unlikely to have been able to carry it out.

The crown did not say any weapon was found on him.

Taking all that into consideration, the judge released him on a promise to appear back in court later this month.