An Arbroath man’s drunken rampage forced armed police, paramedics and fire officers to close a street in the town for hours.
Emergency services had to seal off the area after Ryan Gilmartin barricaded himself in a room in his flat and began making threats.
Crews spent around four hours at Keptie Road on November 20 after calls were made to police when Gilmartin had kicked off at his partner of five years and told her he had armed himself.
Gilmartin had been out drinking with friends and had been in touch with the woman throughout and let her know he was heading home.
When he arrived at the flat, she could tell he was angry.
After loudly banging on the door, he accused her of having someone else in the flat.
Gilmartin began to search the property, throwing around shoes and clothes and when the woman put her hand on his chest, he he pushed her over.
The struggle continued into the kitchen, where Gilmartin put his hands on the woman’s neck.
Victim’s parents summon help
The 28-year-old admitted behaving aggressively towards his partner and shouting, swearing and making threats of violence towards her.
He punched walls and threw items around, before engaging in a struggle with the woman and seizing her by the neck.
When the woman phoned her parents, they could hear her crying.
They arrived at the flat shortly afterwards and Gilmartin was shouting from the living room that he was armed.
Police attended and initially were not granted entry as Gilmartin told officers he would kill himself.
He barricaded himself in a room in the flat and made more threats towards anyone who entered.
When officers did get in, they found Gilmartin with cut hands, believed to be from punching walls.
Massive emergency response
Numerous emergency services vehicles were stationed outside the flat for approximately four hours and local roads were closed.
Police negotiators and armed officers, as well as an ambulance crew and a Scottish Fire and Rescue team all attended.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, solicitor Billy Rennie said: “It’s a serious offence in regard to the disruption caused.
“He’s 28 now – he’s only been in trouble before once.
“He appears to have reflected seriously on this matter and made contact with community mental health.
“These are issues that he wishes to address.”
Sheriff Krista Johnston placed Gilmartin under supervision for a year and added conduct requirements to engage in mental health and drug and alcohol support.
Labelling his behaviour as “appalling”, she also made him subject to a two-month restriction of liberty order, keeping him in his home between 7pm and 7am,
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