By Brian Smith

A POLICE officer sustained a deep cut to his hand as he tried to wrest a knife away from a Dundee restaurateur who had just stabbed himself in the stomach.

At Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday Serecettin Buyukingbol (42), Campbell Street, admitted that on January 2, in Grove Road, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, repeatedly knocked on the door and rang the doorbell, asking to be admitted.

He admitted brandishing a knife, repeatedly threatening to kill himself and that he stabbed himself on the body with the knife, refused to give the knife to police officers and struggled with them, whereby PC Allan Johnstone was injured.

He also admitted breaching a bail condition prohibiting him from contacting his wife or going to Grove Road and being in possession of a knife illegally.

Depute fiscal James Eodonable said the incident at the family home began at 4.15pm when Buyukingbol rang the doorbell, asking to be let in. He was refused entry and the police were called.

The fiscal said the family watched as Buyukingbol stood in the garden threatening to kill himself.

“The accused indicated he had a knife in his hands and pointed it towards himself,” the fiscal said.

“He continued to demand to see his family in the short time before the police arrived to see him still holding the knife in a position that suggested he intended to harm himself.

“Officers, armed with batons and CS spray, approached him and told him they did not want to have to use the spray.

“They told him to put down the knife but he said, ‘No, I want to kill myself.’

“One officer tried to distract him while the other attempted to get close enough to use the spray but the accused saw what was happening and stabbed himself in the abdomen.”

The police officers then grabbed Buyukingbol but in the struggle PC Johnstone sustained the cut to his left hand.

Sheriff Richard Davidson asked if the damage would have an effect on the PC’s ability to use his hand and was told by the fiscal that exploratory surgery had been carried out but he had no information about the outcome.

Solicitor Heather Glen said that what her client had done was, “a desperate act following separation—it was complete and utter madness.”

She said her client had been in Ninewells Hospital since the incident, being treated for the wound, which had nicked the bowel, until his release yesterday.

She added that she had been asked to say, “He is absolutely ashamed he behaved in this way.”

Sheriff Davidson told him, “The first thing I want to do is commend the officers of Tayside Police who put themselves at risk with a view to protecting the public and, in particular, trying to protect you from your own madness.”

He deferred sentence to February 7 for the preparation of reports, including one from a forensic psychiatrist and remanded Buyukingbol in custody.