A man who kicked off with hospital staff after being taken to A&E was later spotted near a primary school with a large knife.
Police had to use their batons and pepper-spray to subdue Ariel Blaszczykowski when he was seen with the weapon near Raigmore Primary in Inverness.
The city’s sheriff court was told he was walking towards Raigmore Hospital, where a day earlier he had discharged himself and fought with doctors.
Blaszczykowski appeared in the dock having previously pled guilty to a charge under the emergency workers act, as well as assaulting an officer, possessing a knife in a public place and threatening or abusive behaviour.
Fiscal depute Shamielah Ghafar said Blaszczykowski was taken to the hospital by ambulance crew on July 19 after being found collapsed in the street.
When he later regained consciousness he ripped out his drip and then tore off a bandage before leaving the building.
Consultants from the department were made aware that he was lying on grass outside and went to try and help him, but Blaszczykowski told one to “f**k off” before getting to his feet and struggling with them.
“At that point both witnesses managed to get the accused back down on the ground and alerted hospital security who came to assist,” Ms Ghafar told the court.
Police were called and Blaszczykowski was subsequently arrested and taken into custody after being medically assessed as fit for discharge into police care.
As he was placed into the cell cage of a police van, he kicked out at officers, connecting with one. He was then taken to Inverness Police Station and checked into the custody suite.
But the next day Blaszczykowski was spotted near Raigmore Primary School, heading towards Raigmore Hospital, carrying “a large silver knife”.
Ms Ghafar said: “Police attended and traced the accused. The police observed the accused holding the knife in his right hand and walking towards Raigmore Hospital.
Police shouted ‘Knife!’ to alert public
“Police observed several members of the public walking towards the accused.
“They made the decision to approach the accused and shouted ‘knife!’ so all members of the public would be made aware.
“The accused did not react and continued towards the hospital.”
The court heard that officers shouted instructions for Blaszczykowski to drop the knife and go on the ground, but these were ignored leading police to deploy PAVA spray in his face.
“This had no effect and the accused continued to walk with the knife,” Ms Ghafar said.
Next police tried hitting Blaszczykowski in the arm with a baton and ordering him to drop the knife, but this too had no effect.
It was only after a second burst of PAVA spray was delivered to his face as he turned toward officers that “the desired effect took place”.
Man made threats to kill
As Blaszczykowski was restrained and handcuffed, he told the officers: “I will kill you.”
On August 19 Blaszczykowski made further threats to kill, this time aimed at his ex.
Police were called by ambulance staff because the 39-year-old was lying on a road and causing an obstruction. The ambulance crew also reported that he had been making threats to kill his former partner.
When police got there Blaszczykowski told them he needed to get to Tesco Inshes, adding: “I f**king kill her”.
Blaszczykowski also admitted a single shoplifting charge at Tesco Inshes.
Solicitor Laura Jane McFarlane told the court her client’s behaviour had been a “direct result of his mental health at the time”.
She said he understood the serious nature of the charges and explained that the three days he had spent on remand before the case called had served as motivation to engage with support services.
‘You caused chaos’
Sheriff Eilidh Macdonald told Blaszczykowski: “You have a significant alcohol problem.
“You have caused chaos with your behaviour, you have been acting out your own mental health problems and you have caused fear and alarm and injury to people who were trying to help you.
“I could quite easily send you to jail for the knife offence alone.”
She instead imposed a four-month structured deferred sentence and told Blaszczykowski, of King Duncan’s Road, he must get treatment for his alcohol issues.
The case will call again in December.
