A nightmare neighbour was shot twice with a police stun gun as he charged towards officers grasping a 10-inch kitchen knife.
Raging Scott Laing was hit in the leg and belly at the end of an hour-long siege at a Fife tower block.
Being tasered did not halt the 42-year-old, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
He kept running at officers while holding the knife, until he was brought down using riot shields.
It was a dramatic end to a long-simmering “trivial” feud between Laing and a couple living downstairs from him at Kinloss Park, Cupar.
The court heard police were scrambled to the block after Laing threatened to stick his front door fob up his neighbour’s dog’s bottom.
Laing, a prisoner at HMP Glenochil, admitted two charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on January 27.
He further pled guilty to assaulting two police officers and having an offensive, bladed weapon.
Sheriff William Wood jailed Laing for 27 months.
Criminal background
“I am content that only a further period of prison is appropriate,” the sheriff said.
“These are serious matters.
“Obviously, you cannot charge at police officers with a knife – causing them such fear for their lives that they have to taser you – and not expect to get a custodial sentence.”
Laing was jailed for 27 months but reduced to 16 months because he has already spent the equivalent of an 11-month sentence on remand.
The court heard he has a criminal history of violence and disorder.
Specialist units deployed
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court that neighbours in the flat below “dislike the accused”.
She said: “As a result, there are tensions between them.”
Ms Ritchie explained Laing had lost his fob and had occasionally used a stopper to prop open the front door but his neighbours sometimes moved the doorstop, locking him outside.
A neighbour went out to walk her dog at 7pm, she said.
“As she left the block, she observed the accused walking towards the front door.”
Laing, who was high on a cocktail of booze and street valium, began shouting at the woman when he saw the door was locked.
“He told her he would put the door fob up the dog’s a***,” Ms Ritchie told the court.
Laing began shouting and swearing at another neighbour who showed up.
Six police officers were called to the scene and spotted Laing at his window.
“He was in possession of a large kitchen knife which he was stabbing at the glass aggressively,” said the fiscal depute.
“He shouted that any officer who came to his door would be stabbed.
“The accused then began throwing various items out of his window including crockery, a broom handle and a medi-ball.”
Ms Ritchie said: “A siege situation commenced and officers took up points surrounding the property.
“Specialist units were deployed.”
Suspect was red-dotted in hallway
Officers watched as Laing continued to stab at his window and shout threats.
“PC Liam Tarvit attended in his capacity as a specially trained taser officer,” Ms Ritchie said.
“He was positioned at the front to the block of flats, which was the only entrance and exit.
“The accused appeared in the common close area, walking down stairs while in possession of the 10-inch blade knife.
“He went to the flat downstairs and began stabbing at the door.”
Ms Ritchie said: “PC Tarvit engaged with the accused and encouraged him to drop the knife but to no avail.
“He then red-dotted the accused who was managing to conceal himself behind a wall.
“He was moving in and out of range.
“PC Tarvit had a clear line of fire and discharged his taser; however, he missed.
“The accused then charged towards PC Iain Duff and PC Tarvit, who fired at the accused, striking him in the belly and the leg.
“The accused manage to continue towards officers, still holding the knife.
“Officers used shields to contained the accused in a doorway.
“A short struggle ensued and the accused dropped his knife.”
Laing was arrested and placed in leg restraints.
‘I was cooking my dinner’
When charged with possession of a knife at about 11pm, Laing responded: “I did have a reasonable excuse, I was cooking my dinner.”
Solicitor Graham Inch, defending, said: “This is not the first time he has appeared in court and he is not asking for anything other than a period of imprisonment.”
The court heard Laing had held down a job as a tradesman and labourer, despite a long-standing drug habit.
“After he calmed down that night, he did apologise to the officers involved,” said Mr Inch.
“He appreciates they were doing their job.”
The solicitor said that his client intends to move back to the block when he is released.
He said the couple Laing had a “trivial” feud with had since moved to another town.
