Twenty-one police officers involved in stand-off at Highland quarry
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An armed response team were among those called to Torvean Quarry as a man threatened to kill himself.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard a dispute between travellers plunged John Stewart (40) into depression and matters came to a head on December 2 last year when he ordered his family out of their caravan then held a knife to his neck and threatened to set gas cannisters alight.
Stewart, now living at Milton, Kildary, admitted behaving in a threatening manner at the quarry off the A82.
Depute fiscal David Morton said that the day before the incident Stewart's family had been celebrating his wife's birthday and when Mrs Stewart went to bed her husband stayed up drinking.
She woke at 5am and found her husband in a distressed state, shouting at the family to leave the caravan, which they did.
The police were called and when Mrs Stewart returned to the caravan Stewart was holding a kitchen knife and Stanley-type knife to his neck
"He told her to leave as he wanted to kill himself," Mr Morton said.
Mr Morton said Stewart attempted to stab himself and by the time police arrived he had secured the caravan door and told them he was going to kill himself. He then opened gas cannisters and tried to set them alight.
Four firearms officers were called to the scene and the fiscal said at one time 21 officers were involved in the stand-off which ended at 9.35am when Stewart surrendered himself.
Solicitor Shahid Latif said at the time Stewart was under pressure to take sides in a family dispute and was now receiving help for his mental health.
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald continued the case until October 30 for reports.
