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Man jailed after armed officers called to Highland address where he barricaded himself in last summer


By Ali Morrison

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Inverness Justice Centre.
Inverness Justice Centre.

Firearms officers were called to a house in the Highlands after a man barricaded himself in.

It was the third such drink and drug-fuelled incident involving Alexander Stewart last summer, between June and August, with his parents and his girlfriend's parents embroiled in the dramas.

Inverness Sheriff Court was told today that Stewart, of Kintail Court, Inverness, had been warned of a death threat against him and his family by Liverpudlian drug dealers.

Defence solicitor Clare Russell said the 35-year-old had been alerted by police of the danger and wanted to distance himself from the other targets in the hope that he – and they – would be safe.

Ms Russell told the court that this was the main reason for commission of the offences.

She added that her client was not directly involved with the dealers but placed himself between them and the others close to him.

Stewart admitted three charges of threatening behaviour, two of malicious mischief and two breaches of bail.

He was jailed for a total of 20 months by Sheriff Margaret Neilson.

The court heard that on June 10 police were called to his mother and father's house in Bruce Gardens to arrest him on another matter.

His parents managed to leave unharmed despite Stewart barricading himself in and arming himself with a knife and a knuckleduster.

He threatened to set fire to the house if police entered, but after he consumed alcohol and tablets police managed to gain entry when he fell down the stairs and injured himself.

On July 22, Stewart had been locked out of the house in Kilmuir Court he shared with his girlfriend and she fled to her parents' home nearby, overlooking Carnarc Crescent.

The court was told Stewart arrived shouting and swearing before taking a knife from his pocket and slashing the tyres of the parents' car.

He also scratched the vehicle and threw a garden ornament through the living room window, causing a total of £700 worth of damage. The Sheriff heard he has since repaid this.

On August 11, a similar incident to the incident at Bruce Gardens unfolded at Kilmuir Court when Stewart again barricaded himself in and made threats of violence to police.

Firearms officers managed to get in after Stewart consumed 100 paracetamol tablets. He was taken to hospital, where he was placed in an induced coma for two days on life-support.

He then appeared in court from custody and was remanded, bringing an end to his weeks of disorder.


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