Stabbing attempts ‘one off’

An estate worker repeatedly attempted to stab himself – and then pretended to choke himself with a scarf – after an argument with his partner“spiralled out of control”.

Thirty-four-year-old Ryan Jones had been asked by his partner to leave the house they shared in Auchterarder.

But he refused and she left the property in Raven Grove, Perth Sheriff Court was told.

She then looked on in alarm as she saw him standing in the kitchen, holding a knife and appearing to make“stabbing motions”with it.

After hearing last week that the pair had now reconciled – and he had stayed out of further trouble for the past four months – Sheriff Neil Bowie said he was prepared to treat the incident as a“one-off”.

Jones, who had been staying in staff accommodation at Duchally Country Estate, Gleneagles, previously admitted shouting and swearing at his partner and acting aggressively on December 1, 2020.

A not guilty plea was accepted to a further charge of assaulting the female by pushing her on the body.

Depute fiscal Sean Maher said the argument broke out when she returned from a shopping trip about 5.20pm.

A young child was also present as Jones was asked to leave.

He refused but she then decided she would go.

“She saw Mr Jones standing in the kitchen, holding a kitchen knife and appearing to be forming stabbing motions.

“He then picked up a scarf and pretended to choke himself.

“The argument continued, with the parties shouting at each other and a short time later he threw his mobile phone towards the wall, causing a small hole.”

As he picked up the pieces of the phone, she was“successful”in having him removed from the property.

The police were contacted and the accused was found in the garden.

He had calmed down by then but was still handcuffed and taken to police headquarters.

She had telephoned the police because she was“concerned what he would do to himself”.

No alcohol had been involved and he had“bottled”things up”after the death of his step-father and aunt.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton told the court on Wednesday last week:“The parties have reconciled and spent Christmas and New Year together.

“He moved back in with her at the start of the New Year and there have been no further incidents.”

The court was told that the accused’s partner didn’t wish a Non-Harassment Order imposed and had written to the court asking the prosecution to“drop the charges”.

Admonishing Jones - a first offender - Sheriff Bowie said:“This would appear to be very much a one-off incident.”

But he acknowledged that it would have been“very upsetting” for the child.