A topless knifeman was tasered by police during a terrifying, drug-fuelled stand-off in Perth.
Brick-layer Stewart Lumsden started hallucinating after taking an illicit cocktail of booze and cocaine, the city’s sheriff court heard.
A neighbour called police when they saw him stalking about in just shorts, while grasping a large kitchen knife.
The 45-year-old refused to drop the weapon when he was confronted by three police officers.
He even refused to let go after being shot at twice with a taser.
Lumsden appeared in the dock and admitted assaulting officers and repeatedly brandishing a knife at them at his home in Ballantine Place on August 1 2021.
He was jailed for 10 months.
Perth knifeman stared out police
Fiscal depute Bill Kermode said police received a 999 call after Lumsden was seen holding the blade outside his flat.
“He appeared to be in a state of some distress,” he said.
“Officers attended and found his front door ajar and the flat in darkness.
“PC Robert Roger pushed the door open and shouted ‘police’.
“The officers then saw the accused standing in his hallway, wearing his shorts and brandishing a large kitchen knife.”
Police repeatedly asked Lumsden to drop his weapon.
“The accused refused to do so,” said Mr Kermode.
“PC Roger removed his taser from his holster and pointed it at the accused, telling him again to put the knife down.
“The accused stared at police and refused to carry out their instruction.”
Lumsden was shot in the chest with the taser, the court heard.
“The accused still refused to let go of the knife and instead came towards officers.”
The three constables managed to briefly get Lumsden on the ground.
“He fell into a bedroom,” said Mr Kermode.
“But he got back up, still holding the knife.
“The officer discharged his taser for a second time but missed.
“The accused then struggled with officers as they attempted to remove the knife from his hand.
“He was handcuffed on the right wrist and the knife was finally taken away.”
Self-medication
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton, defending, said: “At this time, he had been going through a period of high stress.
“He had been using cocaine and alcohol to help him cope.
“As a result, he had been hallucinating.”
Ms Cullerton said Lumsden had been at home when he thought he heard a knock at his door.
“He thought someone had come to his door, intent on harming him.
“He went to investigate and saw that there was no one there.
“But a neighbour saw him in his shorts, carrying the knife, and reported matters to police.”
The lawyer added: “He accepts full responsibility for this offence. He says he wasn’t in a good place at the time.”
Sheriff William Wood told Lumsden: “What is abundantly clear is that this was entirely unnecessary.
“You took a cocktail of illicit drugs and alcohol and you were in such a state that when police repeatedly asked you to drop the knife, you wouldn’t let it go.
“Three police officers put themselves in harms way to protect the public that night.
“Only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
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