East Kilbride man avoids jail after threatening to kill police during flat siege

A knifeman who threatened to kill police officers during a four-hour stand-off at his home has avoided prison.

Officers forced entry to Jamie McFarlane's East Kilbride flat and arrested him after negotiators couldn't convince him to give himself up.

McFarlane, 35, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week. He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour at his then home in Carnoustie Crescent on July 30 last year.

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He also admitted assaulting a police officer by waving a knife and threatening him, reports Lanarkshire Live.

Sheriff Linda Nicolson placed McFarlane under social work supervision for 12 months and ordered him to do 70 hours of unpaid community work within six months.

John Coogan, prosecuting, said two officers went to the flats at 10.30pm to deal with a matter.

He told the court: "They heard a commotion from upstairs in the common close.

"The officers walked up the stairs and were met at the top by the accused. He was in possession of a kitchen knife and a pair of metal cutters.

"McFarlane went towards the officers who retreated to a position of safety. They asked him to drop the items but he took a step towards them and said 'Throw your weapons away or I'll stick this knife through both of you'. One of the officers had withdrawn his Pava spray at this point.

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"Further police assistance was requested and at this stage the accused held the knife at his own neck and said he intended to kill himself. He then retreated into his home."

Trained police negotiators arrived, as well as ambulance and fire crews, and efforts were made to speak to McFarlane through his letterbox.

He was asked to post his weapons through the letterbox and gave up the knife in this way.

Mr Coogan added: "Negotiators tried for two hours to reason with the accused, to no avail. He continued to make threats towards the police and, ultimately, entry was forced to the flat at 2.20am.

"As a precaution he was conveyed to hospital before being taken into police custody."

Defence lawyer Andy Thomson said McFarlane, now of Dawson Avenue, East Kilbride, was facing "significant mental health issues" at the time of the incident.

Mr Thomson stated: "He is currently on two community payback orders for other matters and has been progressing well."

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