A mentally ill man who hurled lit petrol bombs at police and had to be shot by officers has been acquitted of the crime.
Krzystof Andruczak turned on a team of officers who attended at his flat in Inverness on March 31 last year.
The 41 year-old – who was wearing a gas mask and was in camouflage clothes – was also armed with two knives and a metal chain.
The officers luckily escaped any serious harm, but Andruczak left a near £2m repair bill due to the damage he caused at the block of flats.
During a clean-up, workmen went on to discover a cache of deadly weapons in the landing including a crossbow, bayonet, slingshot and hatchet.
Acquitted due to mental disorder
Andrusczak today faced a series of charges including the attempted murder of five police officers, wilful fire-raising and assault.
But, he was acquitted at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow after prosecutors accepted he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time.
Andrusczak’s sister had raised concerns about him prior to the incident.
She was aware of photos on his Facebook page showing pictures of knives and bottles which appeared to contain petrol.
The woman went on to contact mental health officials, police and the local psychiatric hospital.
The constables were among those who later turned up at the flat in Polvanie View, Inverness to talk to Andrusczak.
There was no response and officers decided to force entry although it appeared the door had been barricaded.
When police finally got in, Andrusczak was in a “crouched position” clutching a lit petrol bomb as if ready to launch it.
Prosecutor Chris Macintosh said: “There were numerous other unlit petrol bombs at his feet.
“One officer opened an internal door to act as a barrier.
“The constable felt a strong thud to the back of the door, heard smashing glass and then felt an intense burst of heat.”
Police retreated outside before Andrusczak hurled another petrol bomb from a window narrowly missing an officer.
He went on to lower himself down from his first floor flat using a rope.
As the block billowed with smoke, Andrusczak whipped out two knives from his waistband and started swinging a bike chain.
He refused to engage with police, who formed a cordon to try and contain him.
Firearms officers eventually arrived at the scene.
A taser was discharged twice and he was also hit with a rubber bullet, but it had no effect.
It was only when he was shot in the leg that he sank to the ground.
The hearing was told the damage Andrusczak caused to the local authority building was “extensive”.
Mr Macintosh said the costs of repairs and having to rehouse other tenants was in the region of £1.8m.
The court heard Andrusczak was suffering from a mental disorder at the time and did not “appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct”.
He is currently being treated in the State Hospital at Carstairs.
Lord Matthews today imposed an interim compulsion order for him to remain there meantime.
The case will call again in May.
