A children’s birthday party had to be evacuated after a blood-smeared nearly-naked man went on an axe-wielding rampage before being taken down by a police firearms unit.
Danny Stewart was high on street Valium and wearing only boxer shorts in the street as numerous horrified residents contacted the police about the late morning incident.
Stewart, who had covered his face and torso with blood from an injury, ran into a house, armed himself with an axe and barricaded himself in the kitchen to thwart police.
Officers called in a firearms unit as back-up and tasers were drawn as a party for young children in the house next door had to be hastily evacuated.
Yesterday, Stewart – who is expecting his fourth child in March – was jailed for two years.
The 28-year-old, from Perth, admitted brandishing an axe towards police officers and threatening violence at Lewis Place in Perth on September 18.
He also admitted attacking PC George Wilkie by spitting in his face and trying to headbutt him, and attacking PC Emma Irons by kicking her body.
Multiple calls to police
Fiscal depute Matthew Kerr told Perth Sheriff Court: “At 11.10 am multiple calls were received about a male walking around, wearing only boxer shorts and covered in blood, acting in an erratic manner.
“At 11.20 am police arrived.
“They traced the accused standing in the road and heavily intoxicated.
“He had a minor cut to his right hand.
“Due to his intoxicated state he had smeared it all over his face and torso.
“He ran inside. Officers were concerned for his welfare.
“He was traced within the kitchen where he had made a barricade between himself and the officers.
“He was pacing back and forward, continually shouting.
“An axe was sitting on a chair.
“The accused grabbed it and put it behind him.
“The officers moved back to the living room because he had a weapon.
“He brandished the axe with the pointed edge forward and took a step towards them.”
Stewart told the officers: “I’ll do years for you.”
Firearms incident declared
News of the incident emerged on social media and a crowd of onlookers gathered, which led to Stewart leaning out the window and shouting: “When I come out I’m going to f***ing splat you.”
Mr Kerr said: “This caused the organisers to bring an end to a neighbouring children’s birthday party.
“It was then declared a firearms incident.
“Officers drew tasers and pointed at the accused.
“One officer used a shield to cover part of the doorway to offer more protection.”
When PC Wilkie grabbed Stewart as he tried to climb out of the window, the accused tried to avoid being handcuffed and spat in the officer’s face.
He kicked out at the female officer as they tried to move him into a van and then he deliberately lay on the vehicle floor and smeared it with saliva and blood.
Missing birth of child
Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said his client expected to be sent to prison and added: “It won’t be the first time he’s missed the birth of a child.
“He has very little, or no, recollection of these events.
“He had taken street Valium and injured himself.
“He was going home to change when police arrived.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray jailed Stewart and said: “You have a long record of offending.
“These offences amount to a truly shocking spell of behaviour over a reasonably prolonged period.
“It was aggravated not only by the effect on the police officers called to the scene but also on neighbours, including children having a party at the time.”
