Knife handle broke in boozy stand-off

Court Reporter AN ANGRY young woman stabbed a knife so hard against a door the blade’s handle broke off in her hands.

Riot police were called to confront Jade Blair during a stand-off that followed a drunken night out.

The accused, who was described as heavily intoxicated, raged at her mum and stepdad after returning to the family home at around 1am.

During the confrontation, the 20-year-old went into the kitchen and grabbed a black-handled knife. Blair repeatedly made threats to self-harm. She struck the weapon against the door several times – causing the handle of the knife to detach, leaving her holding the six-inch blade.

The police attended and attempted to engage with the accused, but she remained irate.

The complainers were ushered into another room before being evacuated to a relative’s address. Blair moved into the living room and held on to the knife.

She spoke to the police for quite some time before she eventually handed over the blade.

Public police officers kitted out in riot gear attended at the scene alongside an ambulance. Blair’s wellbeing was then assessed by a paramedic before she was transported to Glasgow Royal Infirmary – where she was found to be suffering from acute alcohol dependency. She was arrested after she was deemed medically fit to be detained.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Blair pleaded guilty to acting aggressively by shouting and swearing at her mum and stepdad at an address in Nairnside Road on September 30, 2017.

She also admitted brandishing a knife at the couple, causing damage by striking the blade against a door, and refusing to relinquish the weapon.

Defending, Miss Connelly claimed that her client could not remember much of the event. Blair’s actions were described as “very out of character” and her outburst was attributed to alcohol and drugs.

The defence agent explained that Blair had been experiencing mental health problems and had difficulty controlling her anger. Her behaviour around the time of the incident was portrayed as a “cry for help” to which she was more a danger to herself than her family that night.

Miss Connelly said: “She was more of a risk to herself.”

Sheriff Diana McConnell replied: “They wouldn’t know that.”

The accused’s relationship with her mother has since broken down and she is now living with her stepdad’s relatives.

Blair was handed a Structured Deferred Sentence.

She will return to court on June 26.