A family were subjected to a terrifying ordeal by a knife-wielding intruder in their Inverness flat and were forced to flee for help.
The woman and her children were confronted by 22-year-old local man Ellis Williams in their kitchen in Riverside Court on the evening of August 29, 2024.
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Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Williams, designated as an Inverness prisoner, appeared to be under the influence of something. When the kitchen door was slammed shut on him to allow the kids to escape, he began shouting and swearing and stabbing it with his knife.
The distraught mother shouted for help from neighbours, police were called and a neighbour came to help.
But Williams confronted him and the woman’s son and lunged at one of them, with the knife scraping his jacket without causing injury, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank was told.
Williams was able to be disarmed and the flat door was held shut, trapping him inside until police arrived.
The court heard that Williams chained the door shut, became verbally aggressive and threatened to harm the officers and their families before throwing a toaster and damaging a window.
However police managed to get Williams out of the flat when some of his acquaintances arrived.
Williams admitted threatening behaviour and possession of a knife and was further remanded for psychological and psychiatric assessments. His lawyer Clare Russell said: “He is aware custody is the only option.”
Sheriff Cruickshank also called for a risk assessment and set a February 18 sentencing date, saying: “There is the risk of significant harm here and a need for management of him on his release.”